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Pertussis

Tara B Spector1, Eileen K Maziarz

  • 1Division of General Internal Medicine, University of Washington Medical Center, Health Science Building, B-503, 1959 Northeast Pacific Street, Seattle, WA 98195, USA. tbs4@uw.edu

The Medical Clinics of North America
|July 2, 2013
PubMed

Insights

Pertussis, or whooping cough, is an infection caused by Bordetella pertussis. Increased adult cases necessitate booster immunizations and early treatment to curb rising disease rates.

Area of Science:

  • Infectious Diseases
  • Microbiology
  • Immunology

Background:

  • Pertussis (whooping cough) is an upper respiratory infection caused by Bordetella pertussis.
  • Historically a pediatric concern, pertussis vaccination strategies have focused on children.
  • Recent trends show increased pertussis incidence and diagnosis in adult populations.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To highlight the growing concern of pertussis in adults.
  • To emphasize the need for updated vaccination and treatment protocols for all age groups.
  • To address the rise in pertussis diagnoses among adults.

Main Methods:

  • Review of recent epidemiological data on pertussis.
  • Analysis of diagnostic trends in adult populations.
  • Evaluation of current vaccination and treatment recommendations.

Main Results:

  • Recognition of pertussis infection in adults has significantly increased.
  • Adult pertussis cases are leading to more frequent diagnoses.
  • Booster immunizations are increasingly recommended for adults.

Conclusions:

  • Early recognition and prompt treatment are crucial for managing pertussis.
  • Vaccination, including adult boosters, is key to reducing disease transmission.
  • Addressing pertussis in adults is essential to control the overall increase in cases.

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