Frequency of pertussis in iranian school-age children

Abstract

Infections caused by Bordetella pertussis (B. Pertusis), have recently been reported increasingly even in highly immunized populations. This is a population-based, descriptive study. Nasopharyngeal sampling was performed in school children between 6–14 years old with coughing for two weeks or more but without any proved underlying diseases. The specimens were examined for B. Pertusis and Bordetella parapertussis (B. parapertusis) by Polymerase chain reaction and culture. Out of 6601 students, 21 (6.40%) children were found to be positive by polymerase chain reaction assay for B. Pertusis and 6 (2.43%) children had this test positive for B. parapertusis. B. Pertusis was detected in the culture of 4 (1.22%) specimens (all culture positive cases were positive for Polymerase chain reaction too) and B. parapertusis culture was not found positive at all. The estimated incidence of pertussis in this age group was 318/100000 and for B. parapertusis was 2/100000. Pertussis has to be considered as one of the etiologies of prolonged cough in children and adolescents in Iran.

Keywords

Pertussis - school-age student - incidence - Iran - Polymerase chain reaction