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Pertussis Resurgence in a Highly Vaccinated Population, Mazandaran, North of Iran 2008–2011: An Epidemiological Analysis

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Abstract

Objective

To describe the epidemiological characteristics of pertussis cases reported to Mazandaran Center for Diseases Control and Prevention (P-CDC) during the years 2008–2011 in Mazandaran, North of Iran.

Methods

The patients included were those who fulfilled the WHO definition for pertussis or those clinically diagnosed by physicians. The demographic features of cases, their vaccination status, the incidence rate per 100,000 population, the relative proportion of cases for each age group, and their relation to vaccination status of the patients were all determined.

Results

During the study period, a total of 518 cases of pertussis were reported; of which 43 were confirmed. The highest incidence rate and the largest proportion were 135.5 cases/100,000 and 37.7 %, respectively, observed in infants <12 mo of age. Almost 35.7 % of the cases were under vaccinated, however 54.4 % of them were fully vaccinated.

Conclusions

Pertussis infection has re-emerged in Mazandaran. It has caused a significant health problem in the susceptible young infants, and also among completely vaccinated children. Implementing strategies to protect these vulnerable infants and studies to evaluate the immunogenicity and efficacy of pertussis vaccine in Iran is recommended. It was difficult to confirm pertussis in the majority of cases, therefore, providing and improving laboratory diagnostic methods seems to be an urgent requirement.

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Contributions

MJS: Chief executive designer of the study and wrote the manuscript; GG and AH: Implementation of the study and collection of medical records; MSR: Designing of the study, analyzing the data, drafting the manuscript and will act as guarantor for this paper.

Conflict of Interest

None.

Role of Funding Source

This project was funded by the Vice Chancellor for Research, Mazandaran University Medical Sciences, Iran.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Pediatric Infectious Diseases Unit, Department of Pediatrics, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran

    Mohammad Jafar Saffar & Mohammad Sadegh Rezai

  2. Provincial Center for Diseases Control and Prevention, Deputy of Health, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran

    Gholamreza Ghorbani

  3. Department of Medical Records, Bou Ali Sina Hospital, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Pasdaran Boulevard, Sari, Iran

    Ahmad Hashemi

  4. Pediatric Infectious Diseases Unit, Department of Pediatrics, Nosocomial Infections Research Center, Bou Ali Sina Hospital, Pasdaran Boulevard, Sari, Iran

    Mohammad Sadegh Rezai

Authors
  1. Mohammad Jafar Saffar
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  2. Gholamreza Ghorbani
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  3. Ahmad Hashemi
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  4. Mohammad Sadegh Rezai
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Mohammad Sadegh Rezai.

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Saffar, M.J., Ghorbani, G., Hashemi, A. et al. Pertussis Resurgence in a Highly Vaccinated Population, Mazandaran, North of Iran 2008–2011: An Epidemiological Analysis. Indian J Pediatr 81, 1332–1336 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12098-014-1445-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12098-014-1445-0

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