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Pertussis is still common in a highly vaccinated infant population

Elettra Berti1, Elena Chiappini, Elisa Orlandini

  • 1Department of Sciences for Health Sciences, Anna Meyer Children's University Hospital, University of Florence, Florence, Italy.

Acta Paediatrica (Oslo, Norway : 1992)
|April 11, 2014
PubMed

Insights

Pertussis remains a significant concern for infants, particularly those unvaccinated or incompletely immunized. This study highlights high hospitalization rates and complications in infants despite overall decreased pertussis incidence in children.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Infectious Diseases
  • Epidemiology
  • Vaccinology

Background:

  • Pertussis (whooping cough) poses a persistent public health challenge.
  • High vaccination coverage in pediatric populations aims to reduce disease burden.
  • Understanding age-specific epidemiology is crucial for targeted interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To analyze epidemiological trends of pertussis hospitalizations in a highly vaccinated pediatric population in Tuscany, Italy.
  • To focus on age-specific hospitalization rates and outcomes, particularly in infants.
  • To assess the impact of vaccination programs on pertussis epidemiology.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective analysis of regional hospital discharge data.
  • Inclusion of pediatric pertussis cases from January 2000 to December 2012.
  • Stratification of data by age groups to identify specific trends.

Main Results:

  • A total of 279 pertussis hospitalizations were recorded.
  • Infants constituted the majority (75.6%) of hospitalized children, with the highest complication rate (24.2%) and a crude mortality rate of 9.47 per 1000.
  • While overall hospitalizations decreased, infant hospitalization rates remained high (53.14 per 100,000) with notable peaks, contrasting with significant decreases in older age groups.

Conclusions:

  • Pertussis continues to be a relevant health concern for unvaccinated or incompletely immunized infants.
  • Infants face significant morbidity and mortality risks from pertussis.
  • Age-specific epidemiological surveillance is essential for managing pertussis in vaccinated populations.
Abstract

Keywords:
ChildrenEpidemiologyHospitalisationInfantsPertussis

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