The Re-Emergence of Whooping Cough in Sfax (Southern Tunisia)

Our purpose was to assess the epidemiological situation of pertussis among infants in the region of Sfax (southern Tunisia). From January 2013 to January 2014, infants consulting for a suspected diagnosis of whooping cough were included in this study. The laboratory diagnosis was based on Bordetella culture and detection of B. pertussis- B. parapertussis DNA by real-time PCR. Household contacts were asked to provide pertussis diagnostic specimens for PCR and serology. One hundred thirty six infants clinically suspected of whooping cough were enrolled. Fifty two infants (38.2%) had a confirmed B. pertussis positive laboratory diagnosis by real-time PCR, whereas, culture was negative in all cases. For household contacts of pertussis positive cases, 8 among 20 parents tested had positive serology among them 2 mothers had also a positive nasopharyngeal Bordetella PCR. Our study confirms that whooping cough remains a public health problem in Tunisia affecting not only infants but also adults.