What question did this study set out to answer?

This study aims to identify predictors of severe pertussis and fatal outcomes in hospitalized infants and young children.

June 28, 2026PLoS ONEOpen Access

Clinical features, disease severity, and outcomes of pertussis in hospitalized children: A retrospective study from Serbia

View Full Paper

Ask AI

Bookmark

Authors

Retrospective study identifies clinical predictors of severe pertussis outcomes in hospitalized infants, highlighting preventive strategies.

This study aims to identify predictors of severe pertussis and fatal outcomes in hospitalized infants and young children.
Retrospective analysis of 107 pediatric patients with confirmed pertussis admitted to a tertiary care center in Serbia from 2015 to 2025.
Logistic regression, including Firth’s penalized models, was used to identify predictors of PICU admission, mechanical ventilation, and mortality.
Viral coinfections were assessed using multiplex PCR, and leukocyte dynamics were monitored through follow-up testing.
12.1% of children required PICU admission; 11.2% underwent mechanical ventilation.
4.7% of patients died, all of whom were unvaccinated infants under 2 months of age.
Prematurity was a strong predictor of PICU admission and mechanical ventilation, along with elevated neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio.

Baša et al. (2026) studied this question.

View Full Paper

Ask AI

Bookmark

Retrospective study identifies clinical predictors of severe pertussis outcomes in hospitalized infants, highlighting preventive strategies.