Whooping Cough Overview:

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Pertussis, or whooping cough, is a highly contagious respiratory disease characterized by severe coughing spells.  It remains a significant health threat, in particular to infants and young children, who are at greatest risk for disease complications. Following the introduction of immunization in the mid-1940s, pertussis incidence declined more than 99 percent by 1970 and to an all-time low of 1,010 cases by 1976. However, since then, a relevant increase in disease incidence has been documented, with more than 25,000 cases reported in 2005.

The increase in pertussis cases is in part attributed to:

• Under-reporting or misdiagnosis of both classic and mild pertussis
  
  
• Increased recognition of incidence of pertussis among older children, adolescent and adult populations, which contributes to the disease reservoir and has become an important source of transmission, especially to infants and young children who are more susceptible to complications  

Furthermore, some researchers have estimated that only 12 percent of pertussis cases in the U.S. are actually diagnosed and reported.

Pertussis.com is designed in response to this public health concern. A heightened appreciation of pertussis can facilitate early and accurate diagnosis and improve surveillance and reporting.