[Clinical characteristics of pertussis in hospitalized children under 3 months]

Area of Science:

• Pediatrics
• Infectious Diseases
• Public Health

Context:

• Pertussis (whooping cough) remains a significant public health concern, particularly for infants.
• Clinical presentation and severity of pertussis can vary with age, necessitating age-specific risk assessments.
• Understanding the clinical characteristics of pertussis in young infants is crucial for timely diagnosis and management.

Purpose:

• To retrospectively analyze the clinical data of hospitalized pertussis patients.
• To compare the incidence of severe pertussis and related complications between infants younger than 3 months and those 3 months or older.
• To identify specific clinical manifestations and risk factors associated with severe pertussis in infants under 3 months.

Summary:

• A retrospective study of 270 hospitalized pertussis patients (March 2011-February 2023) found infants under 3 months (n=143) had significantly higher rates of severe pneumonia (21.0% vs 7.9%) and severe pertussis (38.5% vs 11.0%) compared to older infants (n=127).
• Younger infants (<3 months) exhibited increased incidence of paroxysmal cough with vomiting (25.2% vs 10.2%), cyanosis (38.5% vs 15.7%), apnea (7.0% vs 1.6%), hypoxemia (36.4% vs 10.2%), and respiratory failure (16.8% vs 7.1%).
• These findings highlight that infants under 3 months are particularly vulnerable to severe pertussis and its complications, including respiratory distress and failure.

Impact:

• The study underscores the critical need for heightened vigilance and prompt medical attention for pertussis in infants under 3 months.
• Results can inform clinical guidelines and public health strategies for pertussis prevention and management in vulnerable infant populations.
• Early identification of severe pertussis symptoms in young infants can lead to timely interventions, potentially reducing morbidity and mortality.