title: [Epidemiologic and clinical characteristics of children with disease due to Bordetella pertussis in Santa Fe, Argentina].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Pertussis, a vaccine-preventable respiratory disease, remains a public health problem.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The goal of this study is to describe epidemiological and clinical patterns of B. pertussis-caused respiratory infection over the period 2006-2010 in Santa Fe, Argentina.
  
  
  METHODS
  Inpatients and outpatients < 14 years of age, meeting pertussis case definition criteria were included. Household family contacts of confirmed cases with compatible symptoms were also surveyed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  1074 patients were evaluated, 102 (9.49%) were confirmed through PCR. The proportion of confirmed cases was: in 2006, 35.5%; 2007, 21.2%; 2008, 4.9%. In 2009 and 2010 no cases were detected. 94.2% of hospitalized patients and 42.8% of outpatients were less than six months of age. Of all patients, 67.6% required hospitalization as they had a moderate to severe illness. The length of stay for these patients was over six days. 27.5% had pre-existing medical conditions, the most frequent being prematurity and malnutrition. The outcome was severe in 23.1% of cases, all of whom hadn't started the vaccination schedule. Severe pulmonary hypertension was present in five patients. Fatality rate was 4.9%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Pertussis mainly affected children < 6 months, non-vaccinated or with less than 3 doses. The bacterium was also detected among adults and teenagers.
authors.forename: Gabriela
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kusznierz
authors.forename: Fernanda
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Schmeling
authors.forename: Raquel
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Cociglio
authors.forename: Judith
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pierini
authors.forename: Fabiana
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Molina
authors.forename: Lucila
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ortellao
authors.forename: Inés
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Malatini
authors.forename: Mónica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Moretti
authors.forename: Alejandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gómez
authors.forename: Adriana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pía
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001118:Argentina / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015721:Diphtheria-Tetanus-Pertussis Vaccine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D012307:Risk Factors; D012621:Seasons; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D014917:Whooping Cough / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D015721:Diphtheria-Tetanus-Pertussis Vaccine