Epidemiología de las hospitalizaciones atribuibles a tos ferina en niños menores de 12 meses en España (1999-2005)

Abstract

ObjectiveWe carried out an epidemiological survey to estimate the burden of whooping-cough in children aged < 12 months in Spain between 1999 and 2005. Material and methodsRetrospective survey carried out by reviewing National Surveillance System for Hospital Data (Minimum Data Set), which includes > 98% of Spanish hospitals. All hospitalizations due to whooping-cough in children aged < 12 reported between 1999 and 2005 were analysed. Codes were selected using the 9th International Classification of Diseases codes for whooping-cough: ICD-9-CM 033 (033.0-039.9). The annual hospitalization rate, mean hospital stay, mortality and the case-fatality rate were calculated using data from municipal registers. ResultsA total of 3277 hospital discharges for whooping-cough in children aged < 12 months were reported during the study period. The annual hospitalization rate was 139.4 cases per 100,000 children (95% CI, 134.6-144.18). The mean age of patients was 2.7±1.81 months. Mean hospital stay was 8.8±8.3 days. Twelve deaths were reported in hospitalized patients. The mortality rate was 0.5 deaths per 100,000 children (95% CI, 0.2-0.8) and the case-fatality rate was 0.4% (95% CI, 0.2-0.6). ConclusionsHospitalizations due to whooping-cough occur mainly in breastfeeding infants aged < 4 months. Public health measures, including vaccination carers, healthcare workers and relatives, especially young parents of babies aged < 12 months, are required to reduce whooping-cough related hospitalizations.