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Re-Emergence of Pertussis in the Pediatric Population: A Tertiary Care Center's Experience
Haya S Alshaibani1, Tahir K Hameed2, Khaled H Alsager1
1Department of Pediatrics, King Abdullah Specialized Children's Hospital, King Abdulaziz Medical City, King Abdullah International Medical Research Center, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Insights
Pertussis surged in Riyadh
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Infectious Diseases
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Pertussis (whooping cough) poses a significant threat to pediatric populations.
- Recent global trends indicate a resurgence of pertussis outbreaks.
- Understanding local pediatric pertussis epidemiology is crucial for public health interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe the 2024 surge in pertussis cases among children in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
- To analyze the demographic, clinical, and immunization characteristics of pediatric pertussis patients.
- To identify risk factors and inform vaccination strategies.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective observational study of children (0-14 years) with PCR-confirmed pertussis.
- Data collected from January to December 2024 at a tertiary care center in Riyadh.
- Analysis included demographics, immunization status, clinical presentation, and outcomes.
Main Results:
- 36 pediatric pertussis cases were identified, a 12-fold increase from 2023.
- Most patients (97.2%) required hospitalization; 25% needed PICU admission.
- Unvaccinated or under-vaccinated infants and children comprised nearly 80% of cases.
Conclusions:
- The study highlights a significant rise in pediatric pertussis, emphasizing vaccination gaps.
- Adolescent and adult household contacts played a role in transmission.
- Booster vaccinations for adolescents and pregnant women are recommended.
Objectives:
To describe the 2024 surge in pertussis cases in the pediatric population in a large tertiary care center in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Methods:
A retrospective observational study was conducted on children aged 0-14 years with PCR-confirmed Bordetella pertussis infection diagnosed at a tertiary hospital in Riyadh between January and December 2024. Patients older than 14 years, with negative or indeterminate PCR results, or diagnosed outside the study period were excluded, and demographic, immunization, clinical, and outcome data were analyzed.
Results:
A total of 36 children were diagnosed with pertussis, with 35 (97.2%) requiring hospital admission. The median age was 3.5 months (IQR: 2.0-19.0 months), and the most common presenting symptom was severe paroxysmal cough, reported in 32 (88.9%) patients. Nine (25%) patients required pediatric intensive care unit admission, and one death occurred. Nearly 80% of patients were unvaccinated infants or under-vaccinated, and approximately half had a history of suspected or confirmed adolescent or adult household contact with pertussis.
Conclusion:
A significant number of pediatric pertussis cases were observed in 2024, representing a 12-fold rise compared with 2023 and mirroring global outbreaks. Most patients were infants who were too young to be vaccinated or children who had not received the full series of pertussis vaccinations, and many had adolescent/adult household contacts. Our study supports the need for booster vaccinations in the adolescent population and pregnant women.
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