Search

Introduction: Pertussis is a respiratory infection caused by bacteria of the genus Bordetella, mainly pertussis and parapertussis species. Despite the high vaccination coverage in developed countries, it is considered a re-emerging disease that is also underreported and underdiagnosed, especially in patients who do not require hospital referral. Material and methods: Descriptive, prospective and multicentre study of pertussis diagnosis and contact investigation in 17 primary care paediatric clinics through collection of samples for polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing over a period of 4 years and after the implementation of routine vaccination against pertussis during pregnancy. Results: Pertussis was diagnosed in a total of 50 patients; the estimated incidence in these years was higher compared to previous rates in the paediatric age group. Fourteen percent of the cases occurred in children aged less than 1 year. The mean age was 6.7 years. Cough was present in 100% of cases, followed in frequency by vomiting and rhinorrhoea. Only 1 patient required hospital admission, and none died or developed complications. B. pertussis was the predominant causative agent. Only 40% knew the source of infection. In 26% of the cases, pertussis was confirmed in contacts of the patient by PCR, and in 46% it was suspected based on the clinical presentation but without microbiological confirmation. Conclusions: Access to diagnostic tests (PCR) for pertussis in primary care allows us to optimise its diagnosis and treatment, to break the chain of transmission, to know the real incidence rates and to assess the impact of routine vaccination of pregnant women on this disease. Resumen: Introducción: La tos ferina es una infección respiratoria causada por bacterias del género Bordetella, principalmente por las especies pertussis y parapertussis. A pesar de las altas coberturas vacunales en países desarrollados, está considerada como una enfermedad reemergente existiendo, además, una infranotificación y un infradiagnóstico especialmente en los pacientes que no precisan derivación hospitalaria. Material y métodos: Estudio descriptivo, prospectivo y multicéntrico de diagnóstico de casos de tos ferina, así como el estudio de sus contactos en 17 consultas de pediatría de atención primaria mediante la toma de muestras para realización de técnicas de PCR (reacción en cadena de la polimerasa) a lo largo de cuatro años y tras la implantación de la vacunación sistemática de la tos ferina en el embarazo. Resultados: Se diagnostican un total de 50 pacientes; la tasa de incidencia estimada en estos años fue superior a las publicadas en edad pediátrica. Un 14% de los casos sucedieron en menores de 1 año. La media de edad fue de 6,7 años. La tos estuvo presente en el 100% de los casos, seguida de los vómitos y rinorrea como síntomas más frecuentes. Sólo 1 paciente precisó ingreso y ninguno falleció ni presentó complicaciones. B. pertussis fue el agente causal predominante. Sólo un 40% conocía la fuente de contagio. En un 26% de los casos se comprobó mediante PCR tos ferina en sus contactos y en un 46% se sospechó clínicamente, aunque sin confirmación microbiológica. Conclusiones: El acceso a pruebas diagnósticas (PCR) para tos ferina en Atención Primaria permite optimizar su diagnóstico y tratamiento, cortar la cadena de transmisión, conocer las tasas de incidencia reales y valorar el impacto de la vacunación sistemática de las embarazadas en esta enfermedad.

Introduction: Pertussis is a respiratory infection caused by bacteria of the genus Bordetella, mainly pertussis and parapertussis species. Despite the high vaccination coverage in developed countries, it is considered a re-emerging disease that is also underreported and underdiagnosed, especially in patients who do not require hospital referral., Material and Methods: Descriptive, prospective and multicentre study of pertussis diagnosis and contact investigation in 17 primary care paediatric clinics through collection of samples for polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing over a period of 4 years and after the implementation of routine vaccination against pertussis during pregnancy., Results: Pertussis was diagnosed in a total of 50 patients; the estimated incidence in these years was higher compared to previous rates in the paediatric age group. Fourteen percent of the cases occurred in children aged less than 1 year. The mean age was 6.7 years. Cough was present in 100% of cases, followed in frequency by vomiting and rhinorrhoea. Only 1 patient required hospital admission, and none died or developed complications. B. pertussis was the predominant causative agent. Only 40% knew the source of infection. In 26% of the cases, pertussis was confirmed in contacts of the patient by PCR, and in 46% it was suspected based on the clinical presentation but without microbiological confirmation., Conclusions: Access to diagnostic tests (PCR) for pertussis in primary care allows us to optimise its diagnosis and treatment, to break the chain of transmission, to know the real incidence rates and to assess the impact of routine vaccination of pregnant women on this disease., (Copyright © 2022 Asociación Española de Pediatría. Published by Elsevier España, S.L.U. All rights reserved.)