GALASSI FRANCESCOMARIA, VAROTTO ELENA, MARTINI MARIANO. The history of pertussis: from an ancient scourge to a contemporary health burden.
J Prev Med Hyg 2023;
64:E507-E511. [PMID:
38379743 PMCID:
PMC10876032 DOI:
10.15167/2421-4248/jpmh2023.64.4.3163]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2023] [Accepted: 01/09/2024] [Indexed: 02/22/2024]
Abstract
The present article offers a historical overview on pertussis (whooping cough) by analysing the ancient epidemic manifestations of the disease and the path towards the discovery of an effective vaccine against it. The original mentions of pertussis are examined with reference to Mediaeval Afghanistan and the famous AD 1578 Paris epidemic described by the French physician Guillaume de Baillou. The historical data are then matched with information derived from analyses of phylogenetic trees of B. pertussis. Finally, this article also highlights some recent challenges posed to public health by this infectious disease.
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