Incidence of Parapertussis in the Grand Rapids Area as Indicated by 16 Years' Experience with Diagnostic Cultures

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
During the 16 yrs. from 1935 through 1950, 22,135 diagnostic cultures were examined for Hemophilus pertussis and the parapertussis bacillus. Positive findings were reported in 4483 specimens, of which 106 were parapertussis and 4377 were pertussis bacilli, representing, respectively, 0.5 and 19.8% of the total specimens. The positive parapertussis cultures were from 65 patients, in comparison with 3263 patients from whom H. pertussis was isolated. During the period of study there were 6270 reported cases of whooping cough in the area. In general the parapertussis infections were much milder and of shorter duration than those caused by H. pertussis. These findings indicate that in the area studied, parapertussis infections were of relatively slight public health significance.