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BASICS
Highly contagious bacterial infection
Description
- Exclusively human pathogen
- Seen worldwide
- Endemic in US with epidemic cycles
- High secondary attack rate in households
- Transmission: Respiratory droplets
- Synonym(s): Whooping cough
Epidemiology
Incidence
- Probably underreported; current estimates of true incidence 1–3 million cases/year; however, in 2004, approximately 25,000 were reported
- Recognition of adolescents and adults as sources of pertussis infection in infants
Prevalence
- 25,827 cases reported in US in 2004.
- In 2004, more cases of pertussis occurred in adolescents and adults than in children.
Risk Factors
- Exposure to a confirmed case: Infects 80–90% of susceptible contacts
- Non- or underimmunized children
- Pregnancy
- Premature birth
- Age <4 months; these infants have the highest morbidity rate, complication rate, rate of hospitalization, and mortality rate.
- Smokers
- Patients with asthma
- Immunodeficiency (e.g., AIDS)
General Prevention
Immunization:
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