[Pertussis in Poland in 2010]

Pertussis is an acute infectious disease of the upper respiratory tract. It is the infection of the re-emerging character and affects infants, youth and more frequently adults. The results of the Nationwide Surveillance Study of Pertussis conducted at the Department of Epidemiology (NIPH-NIH) in 2009-2011 confirmed the high incidence of pertussis in adults, among whom the only symptom of Bordetella pertussis infection was prolonged cough. The emphasis should be put on the fact that the infected adults (especially the older adults) are the reservoirs of the pathogen and as consequent there is a risk of transmission of the infection from the adults to the persons who are not immunized, e.g. infants.

The aim of the article is to analyze the epidemiological situation of pertussis in Poland in 2010 with presenting the pertussis vaccination coverage.

The epidemiological situation of pertussis in Poland was analyzed on the basis of the case-based questionnaires of cases suspected of pertussis sent to NIPH-NIH by the Sanitary and Epidemiological Stations, data from the publications: "Infectious diseases and poisonings in Poland in 2010" and "Vaccinations in Poland in 2010" (MP. Czarkowski et al., Warsaw 2011, NIPH-NIH, Chief Sanitary Inspectorate).

In 2010, 1 266 pertussis cases were reported. The incidence was estimated at 3.3 per 100 000 population and was significantly lower than the incidence observed in the previous year (6.3), i.e. a decrease accounting for 48%. As it was observed in the previous year, the highest incidence of pertussis was reported in children aged 3 years old, 4 years old and in the age group 10-14 and it accounted for 20.5, 20.1 and 13.9, respectively and among the citizens of the towns. Out of 1 266 pertussis cases, 525 (41.5%) were hospitalized. No fatal cases of pertussis were reported in 2010.

The lower incidence ofpertussis observed in 2010 in comparison with the incidence reported in the previous year, indicates the improvement of the pertussis epidemiological situation in the country, but on the other hand it may reflect the low sensitivity of the surveillance system.