Increasing infant pertussis hospitalization and mortality in south Texas, 1996 to 2006

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Infectious Diseases
• Epidemiology
• Public Health

Background:

• Pertussis, a highly contagious respiratory infection, poses a significant threat to infants.
• Understanding trends in pertussis hospitalizations is crucial for public health interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze trends in pertussis admissions over an 11-year period.
• To identify demographic and exposure characteristics of hospitalized pertussis patients.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of hospital admission data for pertussis.
• Data collection spanned from 1996 to 2006.
• Patient demographics and exposure history were reviewed.

Main Results:

• Pertussis admissions per 10,000 hospitalizations increased from 0-7.4 (1996-2003) to 16.3-27.4 (2004-2006).
• The majority of patients (78%) were infants under four months old.
• Fifty-two percent of cases reported a sick family member as the source of infection.
• Intensive care unit admission was required for 29% of patients, and three deaths occurred in the final two study years.

Conclusions:

• A notable rise in pertussis hospitalizations occurred in the later study period.
• Infants <4 months old represent a vulnerable population requiring focused prevention strategies.
• Family-associated transmission is a key factor in pediatric pertussis cases.