Pertussis outbreak in children hospitalized in Rabat (Morocco)

Area of Science:

• Pediatrics
• Infectious Diseases
• Epidemiology

Background:

• Cyclical pertussis epidemics disproportionately impact young infants.
• Pertussis (whooping cough) remains a significant public health concern, particularly for vulnerable infant populations.
• Understanding current outbreak dynamics is crucial for timely intervention and prevention strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To estimate the prevalence of pertussis during the 2023 outbreak at Rabat University Hospital Center.
• To identify the primary age groups affected by pertussis during this period.
• To characterize the clinical presentations of pertussis in affected patients.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective study of patients admitted between January 2021 and June 2023.
• Multiplex Respiratory Panel PCR testing for symptomatic patients to detect respiratory pathogens.
• Analysis of RT-PCR confirmed Bordetella spp. cases, including species identification (B. pertussis and B. parapertussis).

Main Results:

• A sharp increase in pertussis cases was observed starting December 2022, comprising 85.4% of positive samples.
• The majority of cases (78.2%) were in infants under 3 months old.
• Common symptoms included coughing (94.5%) and dyspnea (94.5%); Bordetella pertussis DNA was identified in 81.8% of confirmed cases.

Conclusions:

• The study confirms a significant pertussis outbreak predominantly affecting young infants.
• Early identification and management are critical for mitigating the impact of pertussis in this vulnerable demographic.
• Findings underscore the need for ongoing surveillance and vaccination efforts to control pertussis outbreaks.