title: [Clinical and epidemiological features of pertussis among hospitalized infants in Seville during 2007-2011].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Despite routine pertussis immunization, pertussis burden remains high, especially among infants. The aim of this study was to describe epidemiologic, clinical and outcome features in pediatric patients admitted to a tertiary hospital in Andalusia (Southern Spain) with confirmed Bordetella pertussis infection.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective descriptive study based on a review of medical records for all pediatric patients admitted to Hospital Universitario Virgen del Rocío (Sevilla) between January 1, 2007 and December 31, 2011.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Overall, 39 patients were diagnosed with pertussis during the study period with significant higher incidence rate in 2011 compared to 2007 (p=0.0003). Eleven children were admitted to the pediatric intensive care unit (ICU) in 2010 and 2011 and two of them died. Patients who were admitted to ICU presented with more atypical disease compared to controls in a conventional ward. They were less likely to have pertussoid cough and clinical diagnosis at admission and had a smaller percentage of lymphocytes. Creactive protein values were higher and they had a longer duration of hospital stay.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The pertussis incidence rate increased significantly among hospitalized infants during the study period, and was associated with severe morbidity, including unusual complications, and mortality. A higher awareness of the clinical diagnosis of pertussis among infants admitted to ICU is required due to more atypical manifestations, and the risk of sudden deterioration associated to fatal outcome.
authors.affiliation: Sección de Infectología e Inmunología Pediátrica, Hospital Infantil Virgen del Rocío, Sevilla, España.
authors.forename: Angela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hurtado-Mingo
authors.forename: José María
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Mayoral-Cortés
authors.forename: Dolores
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Falcón-Neyra
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Merino-Díaz
authors.forename: Magdalena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sánchez-Agüera
authors.forename: Ignacio
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Obando
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology; D013997:Time Factors; D014917:Whooping Cough / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology*