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[Pertussis: current aspects of diagnosis, therapy and prevention]
1Universitätskinderklinik Tübingen.
Insights
Pertussis, or whooping cough, can affect all ages. Diagnosis involves Bordetella pertussis isolation or serology, with polymerase chain reaction as an emerging tool. Treatment uses erythromycin, and acellular vaccines are recommended for prevention.
Area of Science:
- Bacteriology
- Immunology
- Infectious Diseases
Context:
- Pertussis (whooping cough) is a significant respiratory illness.
- Atypical presentations are common in adult populations.
- Understanding disease progression and diagnosis is crucial for effective management.
Purpose:
- To outline diagnostic methods for pertussis.
- To describe current treatment protocols.
- To recommend preventive strategies for pertussis.
Summary:
- Pertussis can manifest atypically, especially in adults.
- Early-stage diagnosis relies on Bordetella pertussis isolation from nasopharyngeal secretions; polymerase chain reaction is under investigation.
- Longstanding cough cases are best diagnosed via serology.
- Treatment involves high-dose erythromycin for two weeks.
- Acellular vaccines are preferred for pertussis prevention.
Impact:
- Improved diagnostic strategies for pertussis.
- Effective treatment and prevention of whooping cough.
- Reduced disease burden in pediatric and adult populations.
Abstract:
Pertussis (whooping cough) may occur at any age. Beside the typical course of the disease in three stages, atypical courses are observed not infrequently, particularly in adults. In early pertussis, isolation of Bordetella pertussis from nasopharyngeal secretions is the diagnostic method of choice. The polymerase chain reaction is a promising, albeit still investigational diagnostic method. In longstanding cough, serology is the method of choice. Pertussis is treated with erythromycin in high doses for 2 weeks. For prevention of the disease, the new acellular vaccines are to be preferred.