Pertussis epidemiology in Argentina: trends over 2004-2007.
J Infect
; 59(4): 225-31, 2009 Oct.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-19651156
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES:
Pertussis continues causing significant morbidity and mortality worldwide. Although its epidemiology has been studied in many developed countries, the current pertussis situation in South America is scarcely known. This review summarizes the most important recent data concerning pertussis in a country of South America, Argentina.METHODS:
CDC criteria were used for pertussis diagnosis. Proportion of pertussis cases by age, immunization status, and immunization coverage rate evaluated at the Argentinean National Pertussis Reference Centers was reported. Bordetella pertussis isolates were characterized and compared with vaccine strains.RESULTS:
From 2002 to nowadays, a steady increase of pertussis cases was observed. Most of these cases correspond to patients younger than six months old that received less than three doses of vaccine. However, cases in adolescent and adults have also been detected. For this situation, which is not peculiar to Argentina, several explanations have been proposed. Among them, the inability of current vaccines to induce long-lasting immunity is the most widely accepted as a cause of pertussis resurgence. Furthermore, antigenic divergence between local clinical isolates and vaccine strains may have aggravated the effect of waning immunity.CONCLUSIONS:
Pertussis is an important problem for public health in Argentina. Divergence between vaccine strains and local isolates could contribute to the described pertussis epidemiology.
Full text:
1
Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Whooping Cough
Type of study:
Diagnostic_studies
/
Incidence_studies
/
Prognostic_studies
/
Screening_studies
Limits:
Adolescent
/
Child
/
Child, preschool
/
Humans
/
Infant
/
Newborn
Country/Region as subject:
America do sul
/
Argentina
Language:
En
Journal:
J Infect
Year:
2009
Document type:
Article
Affiliation country:
Argentina
Publication country:
ENGLAND
/
ESCOCIA
/
GB
/
GREAT BRITAIN
/
INGLATERRA
/
REINO UNIDO
/
SCOTLAND
/
UK
/
UNITED KINGDOM