Pertussis in childhood

J Snyder, D Fisher - Pediatrics in Review, 2012 - publications.aap.org
Pertussis, commonly known as “whooping cough,” is a respiratory illness caused by the
bacterium Bordetella pertussis. The classic clinical syndrome causes morbidity by affecting
the upper respiratory tract in patients of all ages. The disease can be modified greatly and
prevented by primary vaccination. An ongoing resurgence of clinical pertussis has been
seen in the United States over the past decade, with increasing numbers of young infants
affected despite the availability of effective vaccines. It is important to understand the …