Epidemiology of pertussis in adolescents and adults in Turkey

Karagul A., Ogunc D., Midilli K., ÖNGÜT G., Baysan B. O., DÖNMEZ L., ...More

EPIDEMIOLOGY AND INFECTION, vol.143, no.12, pp.2613-2618, 2015 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 143 Issue: 12
  • Publication Date: 2015
  • Doi Number: 10.1017/s0950268814003483
  • Journal Name: EPIDEMIOLOGY AND INFECTION
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus
  • Page Numbers: pp.2613-2618
  • Istanbul University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

Two hundred and fourteen patients who had a cough illness lasting at least 2 weeks were studied to investigate Bordetella pertussis as a cause of prolonged cough in adolescents and adults. Medical history and nasopharyngeal swab specimens for culture and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) were obtained at presentation. Three (1.4%) patients were B. pertussis culture-positive; 15 (7%) were B. pertussis PCR-positive (including the culture-positive patients) and 11 (5.1%) were Bordetella spp. PCR-positive. Symptom combinations were significantly high both in patients with pertussis and patients with indeterminate results (P < 0.05). We conclude that B. pertussis should be considered among differential diagnoses of prolonged cough in adolescents and adults and PCR and culture should be used to detect these cases and facilitate public health response.