Incidence and severity of pertussis among hospitalized infants, Sarawak, Malaysia, 2015-2021
Introduction: A resurgence of pertussis has been reported in numerous countries. This study aimed to determine the incidence, clinical characteristics, and outcome of pertussis among infants in Sarawak, Malaysia. Methodology: We conducted a descriptive retrospective study of infants aged < 12 mo...
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| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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The Journal of Infection in Developing Countries Non-Profit organization
2024
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://ir.unimas.my/id/eprint/46919/1/Mohan%202024_jidc-018-1394.pdf http://ir.unimas.my/id/eprint/46919/ https://www.jidc.org/index.php/journal/article/view/39436846 https://doi.org/10.3855/jidc.18837 |
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| Summary: | Introduction: A resurgence of pertussis has been reported in numerous countries. This study aimed to determine the incidence, clinical characteristics, and outcome of pertussis among infants in Sarawak, Malaysia.
Methodology: We conducted a descriptive retrospective study of infants aged < 12 months with laboratory-confirmed pertussis admitted to Bintulu Hospital in Sarawak, Malaysian Borneo, from 2015 until 2021. Pertussis was confirmed in all patients using a polymerase chain reaction of nasopharyngeal aspirates.
Results: Of 588 infants who had a nasopharyngeal aspirate, 108 (18%) had laboratory-confirmed pertussis. The average annual incidence was 482 per 100,000 infants aged < 12 months between 2015 and 2019, with a marked decline in 2020 and 2021. Eighty-two (76%) were < 3 months of age. Seventy-eight (72%) were unvaccinated for pertussis, including 75 (96%) who were too young to receive the first dose. A third of the cases had atypical presentations. Severe disease characterized by hypoxemia, pulmonary hypertension, recurrent apnea, encephalopathy, or cardiovascular dysfunction occurred in 32%. Forty-eight percent required humidified high-flow nasal cannula oxygen therapy and 22% required invasive ventilation. Twenty-four percent overall needed intensive care. One (1%) infant had a fatal outcome. Nearly all cases of severe disease or those that required invasive ventilation or intensive care had received ≤ 1 dose of pertussis vaccination.
Conclusions: A high incidence of pertussis with a high rate of severe disease was observed in Sarawak, Malaysia, predominantly among infants too young to be vaccinated. Additional vaccination strategies such as maternal vaccination or cocooning should be considered. |
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