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Pertussis in hospitalized children
1Department of Pediatrics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas.
American Journal of Diseases of Children (1960)
|October 1, 1990
Summary
Pertussis (whooping cough) remains a serious threat to infants, causing significant illness and death even in vaccinated populations. Many hospitalized infants had not completed their pertussis vaccine series, highlighting ongoing risks.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Infectious Diseases
- Vaccinology
Background:
- Pertussis (whooping cough) historically caused significant infant morbidity and mortality before widespread vaccination.
- The effectiveness of current vaccination strategies in preventing severe pertussis in infants requires ongoing evaluation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the continuing impact of pertussis infection on hospitalized neonates and infants in the post-vaccine era.
- To identify the extent of morbidity and mortality associated with pertussis in young children.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of medical records for infants hospitalized with pertussis.
- Analysis of patient demographics, immunization status, clinical presentation, and outcomes.
- Data collected from Parkland Memorial Hospital and Children's Medical Center, Dallas, Tex., from 1967 to 1986.
Main Results:
- 182 infants under 24 months were hospitalized with pertussis.
- 89% of vaccinated patients had received fewer than two doses.
- Reported complications included convulsions (6%), apnea (25%), mechanical ventilation (5%), and intensive care (10%). Three deaths (1.6%) occurred, all due to secondary bacterial pneumonia.
Conclusions:
- Pertussis continues to be a significant cause of serious illness and death in infants.
- Incomplete vaccination is associated with severe pertussis outcomes.
- Hospital-based data underscore the need for effective pertussis prevention strategies in infants.