P. Strebel et al., Population-based incidence of pertussis among adolescents and adults, Minnesota, 1995-1996, J INFEC DIS, 183(9), 2001, pp. 1353-1359
To estimate the incidence of pertussis, a prospective study was done among
members of a managed care organization in Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota.
Of 212 patients 10-49 years old enrolled from January 1995 through December
1996, 8 were found to be culture positive, 10 were found to be positive by
polymerase chain reaction assay, 13 had a greater than or equal to2-fold i
ncrease in IgG or IgA to pertussis toxin (PT), and 18 had IgG to PT in a si
ngle serum specimen greater than or equal to3 SD above the mean of an age-m
atched control group. At least 1 positive laboratory test result for pertus
sis infection was found in 27 (13%) patients, among whom the duration of co
ugh illness was a median of 42 days (range, 27-66 days). On the basis of an
y positive laboratory result, the estimated annual incidence of pertussis w
as 507 cases per 100,000 person-years (95% confidence interval, 307-706 cas
es). Bordetella pertussis infection may be a more common cause of cough ill
ness among adolescents and adults than was recognized previously.