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Whooping cough--a study of severity in hospital cases
Insights
Whooping cough (pertussis) in children is often mild, but can be prolonged, lasting 2+ months for 30%. While severity and mortality appear to be declining, it remains an unpleasant illness.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Infectious Diseases
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Whooping cough (pertussis) remains a significant concern in pediatric populations.
- Understanding the clinical spectrum and outcomes is crucial for effective management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the clinical severity and prognosis of hospitalized children with whooping cough.
- To identify factors influencing disease outcomes in this cohort.
Main Methods:
- Prospective study of 127 pediatric patients admitted with whooping cough over 12 months.
- Utilized clinical and laboratory criteria for assessment.
Main Results:
- Most cases were mild; however, 3 children experienced severe illness.
- Approximately 30% of patients had prolonged symptoms exceeding 2 months.
- No deaths or permanent sequelae were recorded.
Conclusions:
- Whooping cough in this cohort was generally mild with no fatalities.
- Higher mean patient age may correlate with reduced severity.
- Despite potential declines, pertussis remains a protracted and burdensome illness for children.
Abstract:
In an attempt to determine the clinical severity and prognosis of children admitted to hospital with whooping cough, 127 patients were studied prospectively during a 12-month period. Clinical and laboratory criteria were used and the impression gained was that most cases were mild, although 3 children were dangerously ill and at least 30% had symptoms lasting 2 months or longer. There were no deaths, and no permanent sequelae were noted. The mean age of patients was higher than in other series, which might have accounted for the fairly low severity. Although there was some evidence of a decline in severity and mortality, whooping cough is still an unpleasant and protracted illness.