Clinical features, disease severity, and outcomes of pertussis in hospitalized children: A retrospective study from Serbia
GIST
by Mihail Basa, Jelena Visekruna, Tijana Grba, Aleksandra Paripovic, Marija Marsenic, Vladimir Petrovic, Aleksandar Sovtic Background Severe pertussis remains a major cause of morbidity and mortality in early infancy, particularly among unvaccinated and preterm infants who lack sufficient maternally derived antibody protection. This study aimed to identify clinical and laboratory predictors of severe disease and fatal outcomes in hospitalized infants and young children with PCR- or serologically confirmed pertussis.
Methods We conducted a retrospective study of 107 pediatric patients hospitalized with pertussis at a tertiary care center in Serbia between 2015 and 2025. Clinical characteristics, laboratory parameters, and outcomes were analyzed.
Logistic regression—including Firth’s penalized models where appropriate—was used to explore predictors of PICU admission, mechanical ventilation (MV), and mortality. Viral coinfections were assessed using multiplex PCR, and leukocyte dynamics were monitored through standardized follow-up testing.
Results Thirteen children (12.1%) required PICU admission and 12 (11.2%) underwent MV. Five patients (4.7%) died; all were unvaccinated infants younger than 2 months of age.
Prematurity was a strong independent predictor of PICU admission and MV.
Clinical Editorial
Summary
PLOS ONE (Medicine) published a clinical update in Research Highlights on 26 Jun 2026.
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