A pediatric health problem increasing with migration: pertussis reloading.

Area of Science:

• Pediatrics
• Infectious Diseases
• Public Health

Background:

• Bordetella pertussis causes highly contagious respiratory infections, posing significant risks to infants.
• Vulnerable infant populations, including those displaced by events like refugee influxes or natural disasters, are particularly susceptible.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the incidence and characteristics of pertussis (whooping cough) cases in infants following a refugee influx.
• To analyze the clinical presentation, treatment, and outcomes of hospitalized infants with pertussis.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of 28 infants hospitalized with pertussis between December 2023 and April 2024.
• Review of patient demographics, vaccination status, clinical symptoms, diagnostic findings (PCR, chest X-ray, blood work), treatments, and outcomes.

Main Results:

• 60.7% of infants were male, 39.3% of Syrian origin; 42.9% were unvaccinated.
• Common symptoms included respiratory distress, paroxysmal cough (96.4%), feeding difficulty (53.6%), and fever (32.1%).
• Severe complications like convulsions (10.7%), apnea (3.6%), pneumonic infiltrates (85.7%), and need for respiratory support (78.6%) were frequent; two infants died.

Conclusions:

• Pertussis remains a critical health concern for unvaccinated and displaced infants.
• Strengthening immunization coverage and ensuring timely diagnosis and treatment are vital for mitigating pertussis's impact.
• Public health strategies must address the needs of vulnerable populations during health crises.