All issues > Volume 45(5); 2002

Original Article

J Korean Pediatr Soc. 2002;45(5):603-608. Published online May 15, 2002.

Epidemiologic and Clinical Features of Pertussis in Children(2000. 3-2001. 3)

Shin S Yoo¹, Kyong Ouk KO Ahn¹, Eun Hye EH Park¹, Hyun Sang HS Cho¹, Chong Young CY Park¹, Hae Ran HR Lee¹

¹Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, Hallym University, Seoul, Korea

Correspondence Hae Ran HR Lee ,Email: drran@hallym.or.kr

Abstract

Purpose
: Pertussis is a highly communicable infectious disease in children with high mortality, especially in young infants. The incidence of pertussis in South Korea has decreased to about 10 cases a year in late '90s. Doubting previously reported incidences of pertussis, we designed this study to establish exact epidemiology and a diagnostic basis of pertussis.
Methods
: From Mar. 2000 to Mar. 2001, polymerase chain reaction(PCR) and cultures of nasopharyngeal aspirates were taken from 49 patients who were clinically suspected of pertussis in Kangdong Sacred Heart Hospital.
Results
: Among 49 patients suspected of pertussis, 10 cases showed positive results by PCR method. Four out of those 10 cases were positive in culture. The peak outbreak was noticed in the spring(Mar.-May) and the autumn(Sep.-Nov.). The mean age of the patients was 3.6 months. Eight of the 10 cases which were PCR positive results proved not to be immunized against pertussis.
Conclusion
: Most of the pertussis patients in our study were diagnosed as bronchiolitis, pneumonia or bronchitis at the beginning of the disease and only a few patients showed typical clinical manifestations of pertussis, including whooping. When the above results are taken together, we suggest the possibility that the actual prevalence of pertussis in South Korea might be higher than that of previous reports. The importance of pertussis screen tests should be emphasized in children with severe coughs.

Keywords :Pertussis, Polymerase chain reaction, Culture