Clinical Features and Prognosis of Infants Hospitalized With Pertussis

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate clinical status and prognosis of hospitalized infants with pertussis. Material and Methods: Hospitalized patients diagnosed with pertussis from March 2008 to March 2012 at the Department of Paediatric Infectious Diseases were assessed retrospectively. The WHO (World Health Organization) for the definition of pertussis was used. Results: During the study period 40 children (28 girls, 12 boys) with pertussis were evaluated. The median age was 1.9 (range 0.8-4) months. The median cough period until the application was 15 (range 2-18) days. Seventeen cases (42%) were admitted during the summer season; 45% of patients had a family member with a cough; 80% of cases were unvaccinated and 20% had been vaccinated only once. Coughing attacks were seen in all cases, fever in 2 (5%) cases, auscultatory crackles in 12 (30%) cases and difficulty breathing in 4 (10%) cases. At admission, the median values of laboratory tests were as follows: WBC count: 14400/mm3 (range 5420-106000), Hb: 11.5 g/dL (range 8-17), Plt: 417000/mm (range 150000784000). Pertussis was confirmed in six cases (15%) by culture and PCR. Two cases (2%) were admitted to the intensive care unit for mechanical ventilation support and these patients died due to multiorgan failure. The median length of hospitalization was 7 (range 1-17) days. Conclusion: Despite high rates of pertussis vaccination, pertussis remains an important problem in Turkey, as well as world wide. Pertussis causes longterm hospitalization, complications and mortality, especially in young children who have not been vaccinated or were vaccinated incompletely. In Turkey, it is important to vaccinate adolescents and adults to protect young babies with severe trend.