The return of pertussis: problem and how to control

Abstract

Whooping cough or pertussis is an infectious disease affecting the upper respiratory tract caused by the bacterium Bordetella pertussis. Whooping cough is highly transmissible, in which transmission of disease occurs via respiratory dropletsexpelled by infected individuals. It is a relatively mild disease in adults but has a significant mortality rate in infants. Theprevalence of pertussis was significantly increased around the world including Thailand since 2009. In recent years, not onlyhas a resurgence of new cases been observed in countries that practice vaccination but the disease has assumed differentcharacteristics. The rate of atypical pertussis presentations in vaccinated patients, the decline in pertussis immunity postvaccination,and the decreased awareness of potential infections in the adult population make the diagnosis of pertussisdifficult and contribute to the rising incidence. In this article the current literature, clinical symptoms, discuss the laboratorydiagnostic methods being used, treating the disease and controlling the resurgence of the disease were reviewed.

Key words: Pertussis, Resurgence, Vaccine, Whooping cough