The work of authors M. Uralieva and K. Nogoybaeva encompasses an analysis of age predisposition to whooping cough among children by regions of the country from 2014 to 2024.
The study shows that the most severe forms of the disease are observed in infants and young children, which sometimes leads to fatal outcomes.
A previously conducted analysis of whooping cough incidence among adults, adolescents, and children during the same period revealed that it is the child population that is most susceptible to the disease. This served as the basis for researchers to identify the most vulnerable age group among children. The study examined cases of whooping cough in children under 14 years old, as well as the distribution of incidence across various regions of the republic.
To calculate the incidence per 100,000 children, data from the state reporting form No. 1 "Report on Infectious and Parasitic Diseases" for the years 2014-2024 were used.
The results of the study indicate that the trends in whooping cough incidence in Kyrgyzstan reflect global changes: while in the past outbreaks were mainly recorded among infants, in 2018 and especially in 2023-2024, there has been an increase in cases among older children. The authors of the study suggest that the mass involvement of children in the epidemic process in 2023-2024 may lead to the formation of a large group with post-infectious immunity and a decrease in incidence in the future.
In conclusion, it is emphasized that in recent years, in Kyrgyzstan, as in a number of other countries, there has been an active involvement of older children in the epidemic process. This is related to a decrease in post-vaccination immunity and an increase in the number of unvaccinated children, which poses a challenge for health authorities to revise the strategy for immunoprophylaxis and assess the immune background in various age and regional groups.
