Possible reasons for the re-emergence of pertussis include the increased awareness of the disease, the development of new clinical definitions, and the spread use of polymerase chain reaction assays for laboratory confirmation, improving the diagnostic ability even in cases with atypical presentation [3, 4, 7, 9].

Is pertussis emerging or reemerging?

Pertussis or whooping cough is an acute infection of the respiratory tract caused by Bordetella pertussis. Despite wide-scale vaccination in many countries, this disease is reemerging throughout the world in both adults and children.

Why is whooping cough coming back?

Whooping cough, a potentially life-threatening childhood illness, all but disappeared in the 1940s after a vaccine was developed. But in recent decades, the illness has been making a comeback. Changes in the vaccine and waning immunity are likely contributing to the resurgence of the illness, according to experts.