Pertussis: A Reemerging Threat

Pertussis, commonly known as whooping cough, is associated with high rates of morbidity and mortality in infants. Immunity to the childhood pertussis vaccine wanes over time. This creates reservoirs for disease among susceptible adults. Adult caregivers and health care workers can transmit pertussis to those infants and children not fully immunized. Two new vaccines are available for adolescents and adults to protect these age groups from pertussis and thus avoid transmission to infants. Pertussis rates in the United States are increasing dramatically. This disease can present a diagnostic dilemma to providers not accustomed to seeing this infection. Providers can now encourage older patients to receive these newly formulated vaccines and prevent the further spread of pertussis.