Pertussis is a relevant public health problem, especially in infants with incomplete vaccination. Despite advances, it remains endemic, with epidemic cycles and impact on health systems, requiring continuous surveillance. This study describes the incidence of pertussis in children under 1 year of age in Brazil (2015–2025), analyzing confirmed cases and hospital admissions, by year, age group, and region. Epidemiological study with data obtained from DATASUS/TabNet (consultation in May/2025), including confirmed cases and hospital admissions in children under 1 year of age, by year, region, and age group. The incidence rate was calculated based on IBGE population projection (2024 revision), expressed per 100,000 inhabitants. A total of 8,208 pertussis cases were confirmed in children under 1 year of age in the period. The highest number occurred in 2015 (1,885) and the lowest in 2021 (100). Cases were concentrated in the first months of life: 2 months (n = 1,564), <1 month (n = 1,007) and 1 month (n = 1,029), decreasing after the 3rd month, before complete vaccination. The incidence rate varied, peaking in 2015 (62.6/100,000) and falling in 2021 (3.7/100,000), rising again in 2024 (53.9/100,000). All regions reported cases: Southeast (2,878) and Northeast (2,398) with the highest number of cases, and the Central-West with the lowest (605). There were 7,232 SUS hospital admissions in the analyzed period. The peak was in 2015 (1,370 admissions; 18.9% of notifications) and the lowest in 2021 (171; 2.4%), possibly reflecting public health measures. From 2022 onward, cases increased again: 628 admissions in 2024 and 251 through April 2025. The Southeast also leads in hospitalizations (2,946), followed by the Northeast (2,098) and South (1,134), with the Central-West recording the lowest number (392). The data show persistence of the disease and the need for regionalized attention. Pertussis in children under 1 year of age maintains an oscillating pattern, with a recent increase in incidence and hospitalizations. The scenario reinforces the importance of continuous preventive strategies to mitigate risks and impacts of the disease in infants.
Ribeiro et al. (Sun,) studied this question.