Pertussis: old foe, persistent problem.
Although a safe and effective vaccine is available, pertussis continues to be an important cause of morbidity and mortality. Immunity acquired from natural infection or vaccination wanes within 5 years, making older children, adolescents, and adults important reservoirs of infection. Many neonates and infants contract pertussis from older people with mild symptoms and are at risk for developing severe, life-threatening illness. Immunization programs are being considered for adolescents and for adults who live with or care for infants.
Sabella
Camille
C
Division of Pediatrics, Section of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, The Children's Hospital, The Cleveland Clinic Foundation, OH 44195, USA. sabellc@ccf.org
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D001886:Bordetella pertussis / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003140:Communicable Disease Control; D004198:Disease Susceptibility; D006801:Humans; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D014611:Vaccination; D014917:Whooping Cough / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000635:transmission*