Bordetella Pertussis Epidemiology Program
Resources
Case Definitions for Infectious Conditions Under Public Health Surveillance
Case Definitions for Infectious Conditions Under Public Health Surveillance
State and local public health officials rely on health-care providers, laboratories, and other public health personnel to report the occurrence of notifiable diseases to state and local health departments. Without such data, trends cannot be accurately monitored, unusual occurrences of diseases might not be detected, and the effectiveness of intervention activities cannot be easily evaluated. |
Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists
Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists
The Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists works to advance public health policy and epidemiologic capacity. We also provide information, education, and developmental support of practicing epidemiologists in a wide range of areas as well as expertise for program and surveillance efforts. We are an organization of member states and territories representing public health epidemiologists. We also work to establish more effective relationships among state and other health agencies. We also provides technical advice and assistance to partner organizations and to federal public health agencies such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. |
National Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System
National Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System
The National Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System is a nationwide collaboration that enables all levels of public health—local, state, territorial, federal, and international—to share notifiable disease-related health information. Public health uses this information to monitor, control, and prevent the occurrence and spread of state-reportable and nationally notifiable infectious and noninfectious diseases and conditions. |
Pertussis (Whooping Cough)
Pertussis (Whooping Cough)
Pertussis is known for uncontrollable, violent coughing which often makes it hard to breathe. After fits of many coughs, someone with pertussis often needs to take deep breaths which result in a “whooping” sound. Pertussis most commonly affects infants and young children and can be fatal, especially in babies less than 1 year of age. |
Pertussis Clinical Complications
Pertussis Clinical Complications
Pertussis clinical complications for infants, children, adolescents and adults. |
Pertussis Clinical Details
Pertussis Clinical Details
Pertussis is an acute infectious disease caused by the bacterium Bordetella pertussis. In the 20th century, pertussis was one of the most common childhood diseases and a major cause of childhood mortality in the United States. Before the availability of pertussis vaccine in the 1940s, more than 200,000 cases of pertussis were reported annually. Since widespread use of the vaccine began, incidence has decreased more than 80% compared with the pre-vaccine era. |
Pertussis Cocooning and TDaP Vaccination
Pertussis Cocooning and TDaP Vaccination
A wealth of information about cocooning and the TDaP vaccination. |
Pertussis in an Adult
Pertussis in an Adult
A 64-year-old man was admitted to the medical service with a presumed asthma exacerbation. His symptoms had worsened during the preceding 3 weeks despite treatment with oral glucocorticoids, leading him to present to the emergency department multiple times with a progressive cough. He also reporting having associated chest tightness and difficulty eating and sleeping, without any post-tussive emesis. Shortly after his admission, the medical team heard a characteristic “whooping” cough. |
Pertussis Information
Pertussis Information
Pertussis, or whooping cough, is an acute infectious disease |
Pertussis Surveillance & Reporting
Pertussis Surveillance & Reporting
Pertussis is nationally-notifiable and cases should be reported to the appropriate health department. Pertussis cases are reported by states to CDC through the National Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System. Although many pertussis cases are not diagnosed and therefore not reported, the surveillance system is useful for monitoring epidemiologic trends. The limitations of laboratory diagnostics make the clinical case definition essential to pertussis surveillance. It is important to determine duration of cough — specifically whether it lasts 14 days or longer — in order to determine if a person's illness meets the definition of a clinical case. |
Pregnancy and Whooping Cough CDC
Pregnancy and Whooping Cough CDC
This page on the Centers for Disease Control website offers information about pregnancy and whooping cough (pertussis). |