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Pertussis is a potentially serious vaccine-preventable disease.
Many clinicians are unaware that pertussis is common in adults, and that adults are a major reservoir of the disease in the United States. Results of relevant articles were compiled into a narrative review. Studies have shown that sporadic cases of pertussis in adults are common in a variety of clinical settings. Patients typically present with a prolonged cough illness preceded by upper respiratory symptoms. Widespread outbreaks of pertussis occasionally occur in high schools, college campuses, and healthcare settings.