Pertussis: a concise historical review including diagnosis, incidence, clinical manifestations and the role of treatment and vaccination in management

Pertussis (whooping cough) is a highly contagious acute bacterial disease involving the respiratory tract and is caused mainly by Bordetella pertussis. Since the last decade many developed countries experience a re-emergence of pertussis, even countries that have had high vaccination coverage for many years. In this study we review the historical facts, clinical manifestations, microbiology, pathogenesis, host defences, epidemiology, transmission, immunity, diagnosis, treatment and prevention. Finally we describe some new insights in diagnosis, incidence and clinical manifestations. Special attention is given to one-point serology, re-infection with Bordetella pertussis, the decay of immunoglobulin G against pertussis toxin after Bordetella pertussis infection in different age groups, the infection frequency in the general population and the occurrence of mixed infections.