Under-recognized pertussis in adults from Asian countries: A cross-sectional seroprevalence study in Malaysia, Taiwan and Thailand

M. T. Koh, C. S. Liu, C. H. Chiu, W. Boonsawat, V. Watanaveeradej, N. Abdullah, Xh Zhang, R. Devadiga, J. Chen*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalJournal Article peer-review

27 Scopus citations

Abstract

Surveillance data on the burden of pertussis in Asian adults are limited. This cross-sectional study evaluated the prevalence of serologically confirmed pertussis in adults with prolonged cough in Malaysia, Taiwan and Thailand. Adults (<19 years) with cough lasting for <14 days without other known underlying cause were enrolled from outpatient clinics of seven public and/or private hospitals. Single blood samples for anti-pertussis toxin antibodies (anti-PT IgG) were analysed and economic impact and health-related quality of life (EQ-5D) questionnaires assessed. Sixteen (5·13%) of the 312 chronically coughing adults had serological evidence of pertussis infection within the previous 12 months (anti-PT IgG titre <62·5 IU/ml). Three of them were teachers. Longer duration of cough, paroxysms (75% seroconfirmed, 48% non-seroconfirmed) and breathlessness/chest pain (63% seroconfirmed, 36% non-seroconfirmed) were associated with pertussis (P < 0·04). Of the seroconfirmed patients, the median total direct medical cost per pertussis episode in public hospitals (including physician consultations and/or emergency room visits) was US$13 in Malaysia, US$83 in Taiwan (n = 1) and US$26 in Thailand. The overall median EQ-5D index score of cases was 0·72 (range 0·42-1·00). Pertussis should be considered in the aetiology of adults with a prolonged or paroxysmal cough, and vaccination programmes considered.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1192-1200
Number of pages9
JournalEpidemiology and Infection
Volume144
Issue number6
DOIs
StatePublished - 01 04 2016

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© Copyright Cambridge University Press 2015.

Keywords

  • Bordetella pertussis
  • epidemiology
  • infectious disease epidemiology
  • pertussis (whooping cough)
  • public health

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