Seroepidemiology of pertussis infection in an urban childhood population in Cameroon

✍ Scribed by T. Stroffolini; A. Giammanco; A. Chiarini; S. Taormina; A. Sarzana; G. Mazza; M. Maggio; M. Chiaramonte; T. Ngatchu; D. Lantum

• Book ID: 104669872
• Publisher: Springer
• Year: 1991
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 307 KB
• Volume: 7
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0393-2990
• DOI: 10.1007/bf00221343

✦ Synopsis

In 1989, the prevalence of IgG antibodies to pertussis toxin (PT) in a sample of 367 unvaccinated apparently healthy children 5-14 years old was estimated by ELISA in Kumba City (Cameroon). Children were recruited using a systematic random sampling from six primary schools located in different districts of the city. The sample was representative of the various socioeconomic classes. The overall prevalence was 75%; it increased from 62% in 5 year old children to 81% in children 12-14 years old (P less than 0.01). IgG antibody prevalence was positively related to the family size. Children belonging to households of nine or more members had a 2.2-fold risk (C.I. 95 per cent = 1.1-4.6) of previous exposure to B. pertussis infection. No association was found with the father's occupation (O.R. = 1). These findings demonstrate a great impact of pertussis infection in Cameroon, with a nearly total exposure by late childhood.