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Published on: February 22, 2019

Children Admitted with Pertussis Over a One-Year Period

A Dore, P Valla, B Scanlan

    Irish Medical Journal
    |June 25, 2026
    PubMed

    Insights

    Infants under six months are most vulnerable to severe pertussis (whooping cough), often requiring hospitalization before completing their vaccinations. Maternal antenatal vaccination is crucial for protecting young infants against this serious respiratory illness.

    Area of Science:

    • Pediatrics
    • Infectious Diseases
    • Immunology

    Background:

    • Pertussis, also known as whooping cough, is a highly contagious respiratory infection caused by Bordetella pertussis.
    • Infants, especially those under six months, are at the highest risk of severe complications and hospitalization due to pertussis.
    • Vaccination is the primary method of preventing pertussis, but infants are not fully protected until they have received multiple doses.

    Purpose of the Study:

    • To examine the characteristics of Bordetella pertussis cases admitted to a tertiary hospital in Dublin, Ireland.
    • To describe the demographics, clinical features, severity, and vaccination status of hospitalized pertussis patients.
    • To evaluate the clinical course and identify risk factors for severe pertussis in children.

    Main Methods:

    • A retrospective cohort study was conducted over a one-year period (January 2024 to December 2024).
    • Data were collected from patient records of all children admitted with pertussis to a tertiary hospital.
    • Descriptive statistics were used to analyze demographic, clinical, and vaccination data.

    Main Results:

    • Of 26 admitted children, 76.9% were under 6 months old.
    • Severe pertussis (Pertussis Severity Score >5) was observed in 69.2% of cases.
    • Over half (54.1%) of vaccinated-eligible children were unvaccinated, with many ineligible due to young age; maternal antenatal vaccination was low (20%).

    Conclusions:

    • Pertussis significantly impacts infants, leading to substantial morbidity and hospitalization.
    • A majority of hospitalized infants were too young to be fully vaccinated, underscoring the critical role of maternal vaccination.
    • Antenatal pertussis vaccination in mothers is essential for providing passive immunity to newborns and protecting them during the vulnerable early months of life.
    Abstract

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