Parents as source of pertussis transmission in hospitalized young infants.
Infection
; 45(2): 171-178, 2017 Apr.
Article
en En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-27614887
ABSTRACT
PURPOSE:
This study was planned to collect evidences of familial pertussis transmission to infants younger than 6 months of age. Understanding the dynamics of transmission of pertussis in families is essential to plan effective prevention strategies that could be integrated in pertussis control.METHODS:
The seroprevalence of IgG antibodies to pertussis toxin (PT-IgG) and prolonged cough symptoms were evaluated in parents of 55 infants aged <6 months hospitalized for confirmed pertussis. Parents of 33 infants with lower respiratory tract infection (LRTI) and parents of 57 healthy infants admitted as outpatients for hip ultrasound examination (HE) were enrolled as controls.RESULTS:
Parents of pertussis cases had PT-IgG levels significantly higher as compared to LRTI and HE parents. More than 40 % were compatible as transmitters of pertussis to their babies, since they had a level of PT-IgG ≥ 100 IU/ml, which is considered diagnostic for a recent pertussis episode. Based on serology, the percentage of pertussis cases that had at least one parent as source of infection was 49.1 %. When cough symptoms were taken into account, the percentage of parents putative transmitters of the infection to their infants increased to 56.4 %.CONCLUSIONS:
Parents are scarcely aware of the household transmission of pertussis to their newborns. Our study highlights the need to advise parents about the likelihood of transmission to the newborn and to be particularly aware of coughing symptoms in the household. Since infection can be asymptomatic, a serological survey of family members should also be considered.Palabras clave
Texto completo:
1
Colección:
01-internacional
Banco de datos:
MEDLINE
Asunto principal:
Padres
/
Tos Ferina
/
Salud de la Familia
/
Transmisión Vertical de Enfermedad Infecciosa
Tipo de estudio:
Observational_studies
Límite:
Female
/
Humans
/
Infant
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Male
/
Newborn
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Infection
Año:
2017
Tipo del documento:
Article
País de afiliación:
Italia