Descriptive study of Pertussis among children admitted with diagnosis of Pertussis-like syndrome in Tabriz children Medical Center

BACKGROUND AND ABJECTIVEWhooping cough is a highly contagious acute bacterial respiratory tract infection which is caused by gram negative anaerobic coccobacillus known as Bordetella Pertussis. whooping cough is a disease with a global scope and can cause disease in all age groups, including children and adults. Pertussis is a major cause of mortality and morbidity in infancy and childhood. The infant mortality in developing countries can reach ۴%. Based on studies the source of infectious agent in the newborn and infants is the bacteria in the respiratory tract of adults without typical symptoms whose illness is undiagnosed and untreated. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence and epidemiology, laboratory and clinical symptoms of pertussis in hospitalized patients diagnosed with pertussis-like illness and determine the prevalence of cough in family members of the patients.MATERIALS AND METHODSIn a descriptive cross-sectional study ۱۸۲ children whit clinical symptoms of cough diagnosed whit pertussis-like illness for ۲۶ months in Tabriz children hospital Were studied. Based on national guideline for surveillance of pertussis their information was gathered and nasopharyngeal samples were sent for culture. Patient's epidemiological, clinical and laboratory information were collected and analyzed.RESULTS AND DISCUSSION۱۸۲ patients admitted whit suspected pertussis disease and nasopharyngeal samples were sent for culture. Among them ۲۵ patients (۱۳.۷%) had positive culture and the diagnosis of pertussis was confirmed in such patients. Among patient’s whit positive cultures only one patient (۴%) had received all ۳ doses of DTP vaccine. The rest of the patients received fewer than ۳ doses of the vaccine or didn’t received DTP vaccine. IN ۱۰ patients (۴۰%) there was a history of cough in the family members. Length of hospital stay was an average of ۷.۰۸ days.CONCLUSIONDue to an outbreak of whooping cough in patients diagnosed whit pertussis-like illness, especially in infants and children who have low immunity to disease increased awareness and more attention of pediatricians’ residents and medical students about the disease is essential. Also, due to the fact that the ۴۰% of patients have a family history of cough, the use of the booster dose of pertussis vaccine in adults to reduce the transmission of the disease appears to be necessary.

کلیدواژه ها:

Pertussis-Epidemiology- Vaccination