Clinical and laboratory characteristics of critical Bordetella pertussis in hospitalized infants in the Southwest region of Saudi Arabia
Abstract
Background: Critical pertussis remains a critical health concern in infants and is characterized by severe leukocytosis, respiratory failure, and multisystem involvement. Despite global vaccination efforts, outbreaks continue to occur, particularly among unvaccinated or partially vaccinated infants. This study aimed to describe the clinical, laboratory, and management characteristics of critically ill infants with critical Bordetella pertussis in the southwest region of Saudi Arabia, with a focus on comparing survival and non-survival outcomes.
Materials and methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted involving 70 infants hospitalized for severe pertussis between January 2024 and April 2025. Data collected included demographic details, presenting symptoms, comorbidities, vital signs, laboratory parameters [e.g., white blood cell (WBC) count, inflammatory markers, liver enzymes], treatments received (e.g., macrolides, exchange transfusions, leukoreduction therapies), and clinical outcomes. Statistical analyses included descriptive statistics and comparative tests (t-test, Mann-Whitney U test, chi-squared test).
Results: Among the 70 infants, the median age was 3 months, with 46.4% of the infants aged n = 4) exhibited significantly higher leukocyte counts (median WBC, 87.5 × 103/µL) and neutrophil levels, profound hypoxemia, and higher inflammatory marker levels (C-reactive protein, erythrocyte sedimentation rate) than survivors. They also more frequently had…
How strong is the evidence?
Evidence Hub reads this as a cohort study, done in people. Its evidence level is 3 of 5 (Moderate · trial / cohort / secondary analysis). Trials without a large randomized design, cohorts and secondary analyses give moderate evidence. Reported size: 70 participants or records.
Read the paper
Related studies
- Drug repositioning: a brief overview
- Cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterases in Drosophila melanogaster
- Time-resolved in silico modeling of fine-tuned cAMP signaling in platelets: feedback loops, titrated phosphorylations and pharmacological modulation
- Current View on Green Tea Catechins Formulations, Their Interactions with Selected Drugs, and Prospective Applications for Various Health Conditions
- In silico Structure-based Identification of Novel Acetylcholinesterase Inhibitors Against Alzheimer’s Disease
- Development and In Vitro Evaluation of Controlled Release Viagra® Containing Poloxamer-188 Using Gastroplus™ PBPK Modeling Software for In Vivo Predictions and Pharmacokinetic Assessments
Go deeper in Evidence Hub
Evidence Hub adds a study data sheet (design, sample size, evidence level, key numbers), an AI summary and a chat grounded in the paper's text.