Clinical characteristics of pertussis during the period of rising incidence

Objective: in the context of a new epidemiological situation, assess the severity of the course of pertussis and the formation of complicated forms in patients of all ages hospitalized in GBUZ IKB No. 1 DZM (Moscow). Materials and methods. Clinical analysis was carried out based on the study of medical records and clinical observation of pertussis patients hospitalized in GBUZ ICB No. 1 DZM in 2023. In total, 508 children from 0 to 17 years old and 81 adults were under observation. Results. The article is devoted to the analysis of the pertussis clinic in 2023 in sick children and adults based on the materials of GBUZ “IKB No. 1” DZM. In 2023, an increase in the hospitalization rate of pertussis patients of all age groups, especially children under the age of 1 year, was recorded. A detailed study of various forms of severity showed the prevalence of moderate forms and did not reveal an increase in severe forms. As before, the age group of children threatened by the development of severe forms and mortality is the age group of children 0-3 months. In 30.8% of cases, the pertussis clinic was accompanied by the development of complications and, in most cases, the appearance of bronchopneumonia. As well as in the whole of the Russian Federation, most of the diagnoses were made using PCR diagnostics. In addition, in 2023, an increase in mixed infections was recorded, among which the combination of whooping cough and rhinovirus infection and respiratory mycoplasma infection dominated. Conclusion. The increase in the incidence of pertussis in 2023 was not accompanied by an increase in the severity of the disease. The most severe course is still recorded in children 0-3 months of life. Mortality is recorded among children of this age group, and therefore it became necessary to focus the attention of pediatricians on adequate therapy of severe forms of pertussis with the use of antitoxic specific drugs in the early stages of the disease.