Indicator Profile of Pertussis Cases
Why Is This Important?
Pertussis is a contagious, bacterial respiratory disease. Although pertussis may be a mild disease in older children and adults, these infected people may transmit the disease to other susceptible persons, including unimmunized or incompletely immunized infants. Young infants are at highest risk for acquiring pertussis and pertussis-associated complications, such as pneumonia and inflammation of the brain.Although not common, pertussis can cause death, especially in children under one year of age. Most children are protected against pertussis by vaccination during childhood, however immunity wanes over time and leaves adults unprotected. In 2004, U.S. adults 19-24 years of age accounted for 25% of reported pertussis cases. The number of cases among adults 19-24 years is estimated at 600,000 each year. In 2005, the FDA approved a pertussis vaccine for adolescents and adults. The rate of pertussis has decreased since the new pertussis vaccine has been available.
Number of Reported Pertussis Cases per 100,000 Population, Utah and U.S., 1990-2007
Data Notes
The U.S. rates are derived from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Reports. The Utah rates are derived from Utah annual surveillance reports. Both U.S. and Utah 2007 rates are preliminary and subject to change.Data Sources
Utah Department of Health, Bureau of Epidemiology;Other Views
Definition
Number of pertussis cases (including cases identified in outbreak settings) per 100,000 population.How We Calculated the Rates
| Numerator: | Number of pertussis cases (including cases identified in outbreak settings). |
| Denominator: | Total Utah population. |
Page Content Updated On 06/13/08,
Published on 06/13/08
