Introduction:

Currently despite vaccination strategies worldwide, B. pertussis has become a public health problem, it remains one of the least vaccine preventable diseases in the world, even in developed countries with extensive coverage of vaccination.

Objective:

To describe the main mechanisms of virulence associated with the infection through which the bacterium manages to evade the immune response, as well as to present a current picture of the state of immunization against pertussis and the problem of its reemergence worldwide.

Methods:

Electronic literature search was performed; among the search strategies we highlight the use of databases such as PubMed, ScienceDirect, SciELO, Redalyc; and search in health portals; on general aspects of the disease and its causal agent, in addition to the latest updates on the subject.

Results:

As confirmed by recent studies, the increased risk of B. pertussis infection continues to occur in adolescents and adult's due to the decrease in the immune response induced by vaccination and natural infection, therefore, current information indicates that reemerging whooping cough around the world, a situation that is necessary to know for a timely diagnosis and treatment.

Conclusions:

Analysis of the literature demonstrates the need to expand the use of molecular techniques; to carry out the modification of the vaccination programs, with the administration of doses of reinforcement between adolescents and adults; In addition to effective epidemiological monitoring programs for the collection of pertussis cases and adequate notification systems to achieve an equitable and sustainable reduction in the morbidity and mortality of this disease.

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