Prevalence and Clinical Characteristics of Pertussis in Children, Cheonan, Korea.
- Author:
Kun Song LEE
1
;
Jae Sung SON
;
Eun Hee CHUNG
;
Hong Ki BAE
;
Mee Jeong LEE
;
Jeesuk YU
;
Young Pyo CHANG
;
Woo Sung PARK
;
Jae Kyoung KIM
;
Insoo RHEEM
;
Eui Jung ROH
Author Information
1. Department of Pediatrics and Laboratory Medicine, College of Medicine, Dankook University, Cheonan, Korea. pdlks@hanmail.net
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Pertussis;
Multiplex polymerase chain reaction;
Children
- MeSH:
Adolescent;
Adult;
Bordetella pertussis;
Child;
Cough;
Diphtheria-Tetanus-acellular Pertussis Vaccines;
Fever;
Humans;
Incidence;
Korea;
Leukocyte Count;
Mediastinal Emphysema;
Multiplex Polymerase Chain Reaction;
Organothiophosphorus Compounds;
Pneumonia;
Polymerase Chain Reaction;
Prevalence;
Pulmonary Atelectasis;
Republic of Korea;
Vomiting;
Whooping Cough
- From:Korean Journal of Pediatric Infectious Diseases
2009;16(2):175-182
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
PURPOSE: A number of countries have experienced an increase in pertussis during the past decade. In particular, there has been an increase in the incidence rate among adolescents and adults. To learn more about the current epidemiology of pertussis, we studied the prevalence and clinical characteristics of pertussis in children in Cheonan, South Korea. METHODS: We collected nasopharyngeal aspirates of 118 patients who were treated for respiratory symptoms at Dankook Univeristy Hospital between March 2008 and September 2009. We performed multiplex PCR for detection of Bordetella pertussis in those aspirates. RESULTS: Of the 118 patients, 10 (8%) were positive by PCR for B. pertussis. Six episodes occurred during the period July to September 2009. Nine of the 10 patients were less than 3 months old. Seven of them had not received DTaP vaccine. The mean duration of coughing before diagnosis was 10.9+/-5.2 days. Ten patients (100%) had paroxysmal cough and 8 (80%) had post-tussive vomiting. Only one patient had fever. One who had complications that include pneumonia, atelectasis and pneumomediastinum developed an absolute increase in leukocyte count (84,400/mm3). There was a statistically significant relation between vaccine being received and development of complications (P=0.033). CONCLUSION: We suspect that there was an epidemic of pertussis between July and September 2009. Further investigation by a pediatric or nationwide surveillance system is needed to monitor the changing epidemiology for pertussis.
