Evaluation of clinically suspected pertussis in children attending Rapareen Teaching Hospital in Erbil Governorate

Abstract

Background and objective: Pertussis is one of the vaccine preventable diseases. Bordetella pertussis (B. Pertussis) continues to circulate even in countries with good childhood vaccination. The aim of this study was to evaluate patients suspected or confirmed to have pertussis in relation to certain clinical and laboratory data. Methods: A prospective study was conducted in Rapareen Teaching Hospital from June 1st, to September 1st, 2010. The study enrolled 651 inpatients below five years of age with respiratory tract infection with 72 of them having initial suspicion of pertussis. Demographic and clinical data were obtained from them and nasopharyngeal swab were sent for culture for isolation of microorganisms as well as blood samples obtained for haematological assessment (white blood cell differential count and platelet count). Those confirmed to have pertussis and para-pertussis were considered as group A while other culture results were considered group B. Results: Most of patients were below one year of age (56.9%) with large numbers were not properly vaccinated and they had positive family history of paroxysmal cough (68.1% and 58.3%, respectively). Twenty one patients confirmed to have pertussis and parapertussis by culture methods. There was no significant difference between patients with group A when compared to group B regarding gender, vaccination status, history of post-tussive vomiting or whoop and family history of chronic cough. Mean platelet count was significantly different between two groups, with pertussis and parap-pertussis cases had less platelet count.Conclusion: Near half of patients with B. pertussis and parapertussis have a defect in their vaccination program.