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Epidemiology of pertussis in adolescents and adults in Turkey

A Karagul1, D Ogunc1, K Midilli2

  • 1Department of Clinical Microbiology,Akdeniz University Faculty of Medicine,Antalya,Turkey.

Epidemiology and Infection
|December 20, 2014
PubMed

Insights

Bordetella pertussis causes prolonged cough in adolescents and adults. Diagnostic tests like PCR and culture are crucial for identifying pertussis and enabling public health responses.

Area of Science:

  • Infectious Diseases
  • Microbiology
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Prolonged cough in adolescents and adults is a common clinical presentation.
  • Bordetella pertussis (whooping cough) is a significant pathogen, but its role in prolonged cough in older populations is often underestimated.
  • Accurate diagnosis is essential for effective treatment and preventing transmission.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the prevalence of Bordetella pertussis as a cause of persistent cough in individuals aged 16 years and older.
  • To evaluate the utility of culture and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in detecting B. pertussis in this demographic.
  • To inform clinical practice and public health strategies for managing prolonged cough.

Main Methods:

  • A prospective study involving 214 patients with cough illness lasting at least 2 weeks.
  • Collection of medical history and nasopharyngeal swab specimens.
  • Laboratory analysis using both bacterial culture and PCR for B. pertussis and Bordetella species detection.

Main Results:

  • Bordetella pertussis was detected in 1.4% of patients by culture and 7% by PCR.
  • An additional 5.1% of patients tested positive for Bordetella species by PCR.
  • Specific symptom combinations were significantly associated with pertussis and indeterminate cases, suggesting diagnostic utility.

Conclusions:

  • Bordetella pertussis is an important consideration in the differential diagnosis of prolonged cough in adolescents and adults.
  • PCR and culture are valuable tools for identifying B. pertussis infections.
  • Early detection aids in implementing timely public health interventions to control pertussis outbreaks.
Keywords:
Bordetella pertussisTurkeyadolescentsadultsprolonged cough

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