Pertussista

Pertussista is a term used informally, primarily in some Spanish- and Portuguese-speaking communities, to refer to a person who specializes in pertussis—the infectious disease caused by the bacterium Bordetella pertussis. The word combines pertussis with the -ista suffix denoting a practitioner or enthusiast.

This term is not widely used in English-language medical literature and is not an official professional designation. When encountered, it usually refers to researchers, clinicians, epidemiologists, or public health specialists focused on pertussis, including its diagnosis, treatment, prevention, and surveillance.

Typical areas of work include laboratory diagnostics (culture, PCR), clinical management of pertussis in different age groups, vaccine research and coverage strategies (DTP, DTaP, Tdap), evaluation of vaccine effectiveness, and outbreak response. Pertussistas may work in academic institutions, hospital settings, public health agencies, or pharmaceutical companies.

Pertussis remains a public health concern due to waning immunity and periodic outbreaks despite vaccination. The key terms related to pertussis include Bordetella pertussis, whooping cough, DTaP/Tdap vaccines, macrolide antibiotics for treatment, and surveillance programs.