title: Whooping cough in adults: an update on a reemerging infection.
abstract: Pertussis, or whooping cough, which is commonly thought of as a pediatric illness, is an underappreciated adult pathogen. Recent outbreaks highlight the significance of pertussis in adults and the risk of transmission to at-risk infants who are most susceptible to complications, including death. This article describes the recent epidemiologic shifts and reviews the clinical presentation, diagnosis, and treatment of pertussis. New vaccination recommendations by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices in response to recent outbreaks and infant deaths are highlighted.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Washington, DC 20307, USA. robert.paisley1@us.army.mil
authors.forename: Robert D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Paisley
authors.forename: Jason
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Blaylock
authors.forename: Joshua D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Hartzell
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D021821:Communicable Diseases, Emerging / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D022681:Diphtheria-Tetanus-acellular Pertussis Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D007226:Infant Mortality / Q000639:trends; D008875:Middle Aged; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D014917:Whooping Cough / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D022681:Diphtheria-Tetanus-acellular Pertussis Vaccines