Abstract
BACKGROUND: Bordetella pertussis, the causative agent of whooping cough, is a significant contributor to recurrent persistent cough across all age groups, including vaccinated individuals. This seroepidemiological study aims to address the gap in understanding pertussis incidence by investigating its occurrence in individuals with persistent cough and describing the characteristics of affected patients admitted to clinical centers in Jahrom, Southwest Iran. METHODS: This cross-sectional study enrolled 110 patients with a cough persisting for at least 2 weeks, admitted to clinical centers in Jahrom, Iran. Blood samples were collected at baseline and on day 21 of follow-up. Serum samples were analyzed for anti-pertussis toxin immunoglobulin G (anti-PT-IgG) levels using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Demographic factors, including age, gender, occupation, area of residence, and family size, were also evaluated. RESULTS: Among the 110 participants, 77 (70%) were female, and seven patients (6.4%) tested seropositive for anti-PT-IgG. No significant associations were observed between pertussis incidence and the analyzed variables, including age, gender, occupation, area of residence (urban vs. rural), and family size (p > 0.05). These findings underscore the importance of enhancing vaccination coverage to reduce the prevalence of B. pertussis in the community. CONCLUSION: This study highlights the occurrence of pertussis in individuals presenting solely with a persistent cough, absent of classic symptoms. The findings emphasize the need for healthcare providers to conduct detailed assessments and utilize rapid diagnostic methods for timely detection. This is particularly crucial in regions with high vaccination rates but limited awareness of pertussis recurrence.