Pertussis

Pertussis is an infectious disease of the respiratory tract caused by the Gram-negative bacterium Bordetella pertussis. Pertussis vaccines have led to a significant reduction in the incidence and severity of pertussis in infants worldwide. Despite this decrease in incidence, pertussis remains one of the principal causes of vaccine-preventable deaths; in 2008, the World Health Organization reported an estimated 16 million cases per year and 195,000 paediatric deaths. Pertussis infection can occur at any age. In the last 20 years, there has been an increase in the number of adolescent and adult cases reported in high-income countries with good vaccination coverage. These cases represent a potential source of infection to unimmunized infants, who typically have a more severe course with higher mortality. Pertussis infection in previously immunized adults, the elderly or young infants frequently presents with atypical symptoms and can easily be overlooked as a diagnosis. This review provides a summary of B. pertussis and discusses diagnostic tests, treatment and prevention.