title: Morbidity of pertussis in adolescents and adults.
abstract: The effect of age on the clinical presentation of pertussis was assessed in 664 adolescent and adult cases. Complications were more frequent in adults than in adolescents (28% vs. 16%). Pneumonia occurred in 2% of patients <30 years old but in 5%-9% of older patients. Urinary incontinence occurred in 34% of women >/=50 years old. Duration of cough, risk of sinusitis, and number of nights with disturbed sleep increased with smoking and asthma. The secondary attack rate in other household members >/=12 years was 11%. Pertussis in secondary case patients was less severe than in index case patients but presented with classic symptoms. The main source of infection in adolescents was schoolmates or friends; in adults it was workplace or their children. Teachers and health care workers had a greater risk of pertussis than did the general population. The burden of disease appears to increase with age, with smoking, and with asthma.
authors.affiliation: Centre de Santé Publique de Québec, Beauport, Quebec, G1E 7G9 Canada. gdeserres@cspq.qc.ca
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: De Serres
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Shadmani
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Duval
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Boulianne
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Déry
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Douville Fradet
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Rochette
authors.forename: S A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Halperin
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019072:Antibiotic Prophylaxis; D001249:Asthma / Q000209:etiology; D002170:Canada / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D018562:Disease Transmission, Infectious / Q000517:prevention & control; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009017:Morbidity; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects; D012922:Social Change; D014917:Whooping Cough / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000635:transmission
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents