Abstract
Between 1988 and 1989 there were 896 reported cases of pertussis in Arizona. Of the 781 investigated cases 55 were identified in children younger than 5 years of age. Thirty-five percent of children between 6 months and 5 years of age were not fully immunized; 3 infants died. Approximately 50% of infected children between 5 and 14 years of age had not received 5 doses of pertussis vaccine. Of the 413 physician respondents to a questionnaire, fully 10% do not administer pertussis vaccine to preschool children because of parental, personal or other reasons. We hypothesize that the reservoir of pertussis-susceptible older children and young adults is augmented by this omission of the fifth diphtheria-tetanus toxoids-pertussis vaccine. Newer educational and vaccine strategies are necessary to prevent epidemics of pertussis.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 576-578 |
Number of pages | 3 |
Journal | Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal |
Volume | 10 |
Issue number | 8 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Aug 1991 |
Keywords
- Epidemic pertussis
- Pertussis
- Pertussis immunization
- Preschool diphtheria-tetanus toxoids-pertussis vaccine
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Pediatrics, Perinatology, and Child Health
- Microbiology (medical)
- Infectious Diseases