[Clinical analysis of 309 hospitalized children with pertussis-associated pneumonia]

M Xu1, Y L Lei, K Tan

  • 1Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi 563003, China.

Insights

Pertussis-associated pneumonia is common in hospitalized children, particularly males and younger children with underlying conditions. Early recognition and management are crucial for better outcomes.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatrics
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Respiratory Medicine

Background:

  • Pertussis, or whooping cough, remains a significant public health concern globally.
  • Pneumonia is a common and serious complication of pertussis, especially in infants and young children.
  • Understanding the risk factors and clinical characteristics of pertussis-associated pneumonia is essential for timely diagnosis and treatment.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the clinical features of pertussis-associated pneumonia in hospitalized children.
  • To identify risk factors associated with the development of pneumonia in children with Bordetella pertussis infection.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective analysis of clinical data from 501 children hospitalized with Bordetella pertussis infection between October 2013 and December 2015.
  • Patients were categorized into groups with and without radiologically confirmed pneumonia.
  • Statistical analysis, including t-tests, rank sum tests, chi-square tests, and unconditional logistic regression, was used to compare groups and identify risk factors.

Main Results:

  • Of 501 children, 309 (61.7%) developed pneumonia. The median age was 3 months.
  • Common symptoms included paroxysmal cough (81.6%), cyanosis (34.0%), and tachypnea (22.3%).
  • Male sex, younger age (median 3 vs. 4 months), and presence of comorbidities were significantly associated with pneumonia. Male sex (OR=1.648), younger age (OR=1.486), and comorbidities (OR=2.695) were independent risk factors.

Conclusions:

  • Pneumonia is a frequent complication of pertussis in hospitalized children, often requiring extensive hospitalization.
  • Younger male children with underlying comorbidities are at higher risk for developing pertussis-associated pneumonia.
  • Pneumonia commonly develops within the first two weeks of the disease course.

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