Peer-reviewed article
Factors associated with pertussis infection and suspected cases in the Aseer Region, Saudi Arabia: a retrospective cross-sectional analysis study.
Abdulrahman Mohammed Alqahtani, Abdullah Mohammed Alshehri, Arif Ahmed Alqahtani, Majd Mohammed Yahya Asiri, Maram Mohammed Alshahrani ·
Summary
Written by AI, not yet AICS's view · claude-haiku-4-5-20251001This study examined pertussis cases in Saudi Arabia's Aseer region from 2020 to 2024, finding that 41.5% of suspected cases were laboratory-confirmed. Most cases occurred in infants under four months old, and fewer than 42% had received any pertussis vaccine. Maternal Tdap vaccination significantly reduced infection rates in infants, highlighting the importance of improving maternal immunization coverage and infant vaccination access in the region.
Key points
- 41.5% of 388 suspected pertussis cases tested positive
- 58.3% of cases were infants under four months old; 51.3% were male
- Fewer than 42% of children had received any pertussis vaccine, and only 28.6% of mothers received Tdap in the third trimester
- Maternal Tdap vaccination reduced positivity from 38.9% (unvaccinated mothers) to 77.8% (vaccinated mothers)
- Annual positivity rates dropped from 37.1% in 2020 to 5.9% in 2022, then surged to 69.3% in 2024
Limitations
This is a retrospective study from a single hospital, so findings may not represent the entire Aseer region or Saudi Arabia. The study identifies associations but cannot establish causation, and does not account for other potential confounding factors affecting disease incidence and vaccination rates.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Pertussis is a major cause of vaccine-preventable morbidity and mortality in children globally. In Saudi Arabia, the incidence has risen despite high immunization rates and maternal Tdap recommendations. This study aims to identify the incidence and key factors associated with laboratory-confirmed pediatric pertussis in the Aseer region from 2020 to 2024. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was conducted on suspected pediatric pertussis cases at Sarat Ubaida General Hospital, Aseer region, from 2020 to 2024. Data from medical records included age, gender, vaccination history, symptoms, and lab results. Descriptive statistics summarized characteristics, with Chi-square and Fisher's Exact tests for comparisons, and multivariable logistic regression for adjusted odds ratios (95% CI). RESULTS: Of 388 suspected cases, 41.5% tested positive. Infants under four months made up 58.3% of cases, and males accounted for 51.3%. Fewer than 42% had received any pertussis vaccine, with only 28.6% of mothers receiving Tdap in the third trimester. Annual positivity dropped from 37.1% in 2020 to 5.9% in 2022, then rose to 69.3% in 2024. Maternal Tdap immunization significantly reduced positivity rates: 38.9% in unvaccinated mothers compared to 77.8% in vaccinated mothers (p = 0.003). Classic respiratory symptoms helped distinguish positive from negative cases. CONCLUSION: Pediatric pertussis in the Aseer region has seen low vaccination coverage and a resurgence in 2024, especially in infants under four months. It's crucial to boost maternal Tdap uptake, improve infant vaccination access, target low-coverage communities, and maintain surveillance to monitor trends and vaccine effectiveness.