Abstract
Bordetella pertussis is an important human pathogen that causes whooping cough (pertussis), an endemic illness responsible of significant morbidity and mortality, especially in infants and children. Worldwide, there are an estimated of 16 million cases of pertussis, resulting in about 195,000 child deaths per year. In Peru, pertussis is a major health problem that has been on the increase despite immunization efforts. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of B. pertussis among children under five years of age suspected to have whopping cough in Cajamarca, Peru. Children diagnosed with whooping cough admitted to the Hospital Regional de Cajamarca from August 2010 to July 2013 were included. Nasopharyngeal samples were obtained for B. pertussis culture and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) detection. In 133 children, the pertussis toxin and IS481 gene were detected in 38.35% (51/133) of the cases by PCR, while only 9.02% (12/133) of the Bordetella cultures were positive. The most frequent symptoms in patients with positive B. pertussis were paroxysm of coughing 68.63% (35/51), cyanosis 56.86% (29/51), respiratory distress 43.14% (22/51), and fever 39.22% (20/51). Pneumonia and acute bronchial obstructive syndrome were present in 17.65% (9/51) and 13.72% (7/51) of the cases, respectively. B. pertussis is responsible for an important proportion of whooping cough in hospitalized children in Cajamarca. Epidemiologic surveillance programs for B. pertussis are essential in Peru, especially in children who could most benefit from the vaccine.
Highlights
Bordetella pertussis is an important human pathogen that causes whooping cough, an endemic illness responsible of significant morbidity and mortality, especially in infants and children
The aim of this study was to determine the proportion of B. pertussis among children under five years of age suspected of having whooping cough in Cajamarca, the region with the fifth-most reported cases of B. pertussis in Peru
All patients younger than five years of age admitted to Hospital Regional de Salud de Cajamarca, in the department of Cajamarca, northern Peru, clinically diagnosed with whooping cough were included in the study
Summary
Bordetella pertussis is an important human pathogen that causes whooping cough (pertussis), an endemic illness responsible of significant morbidity and mortality, especially in infants and children. There are an estimated of 16 million cases of pertussis, resulting in about 195,000 child deaths per year. There are an estimated 16 million cases of pertussis, 95% of which occur in developing countries, resulting in about 195,000 child deaths per year [1,2]. In previous years, the baseline number of cases reported were minor, with a total of 237 cases in 2009, 61 cases in 2010, and 89 cases in 2011 (including a total of 18 child deaths) [6] This may be due to several factors, including the adaptation of the B. pertussis strains, waning vaccineinduced immunity, incomplete protection from vaccination, increased awareness, or improved reporting [5,7]
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