title: Seroepidemiology of pertussis infection in an urban childhood population in Cameroon.
abstract: In 1989, the prevalence of IgG antibodies to pertussis toxin (PT) in a sample of 367 unvaccinated apparently healthy children 5-14 years old was estimated by ELISA in Kumba City (Cameroon). Children were recruited using a systematic random sampling from six primary schools located in different districts of the city. The sample was representative of the various socioeconomic classes. The overall prevalence was 75%; it increased from 62% in 5 year old children to 81% in children 12-14 years old (P less than 0.01). IgG antibody prevalence was positively related to the family size. Children belonging to households of nine or more members had a 2.2-fold risk (C.I. 95 per cent = 1.1-4.6) of previous exposure to B. pertussis infection. No association was found with the father's occupation (O.R. = 1). These findings demonstrate a great impact of pertussis infection in Cameroon, with a nearly total exposure by late childhood.
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio di Epidemiologia, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Roma, Italy.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Stroffolini
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Giammanco
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chiarini
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Taormina
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sarzana
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Mazza
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Maggio
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Chiaramonte
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ngatchu
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lantum
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002163:Cameroon / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005191:Family Characteristics; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000096:biosynthesis; D037342:Pertussis Toxin; D014505:Urban Population; D010566:Virulence Factors, Bordetella / Q000276:immunology; D014917:Whooping Cough / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D010566:Virulence Factors, Bordetella; D037342:Pertussis Toxin