Table 3.
Outcomes and Clinical Characteristics of Infants Aged <2 Months Tested for Pertussis: Guatemala, 2007–2012
| Characteristic | Pertussis-Positive Infants (n = 11) | Pertussis-Negative Infants (n = 290) | P |
|---|---|---|---|
| Outcomes | |||
| Death (n [%]) | 2 (18.2) | 10 (3.4) | .014 |
| ICU admission (n [%]) | 7 (63.6) | 102 (35.2) | NS |
| ICU length of stay (mean [range]) (days) | 5.9 (2–15) | 5.3 (1–24) | NS |
| Clinical characteristics | |||
| Cough (n [%]) | 10 (91) | 253 (87) | NS |
| Cough duration before admission (mean [range]) (days) | 5.3 (1–15) | 4.3 (1–30) | NS |
| Paroxysmal cough (n [%])a | 0 (0) | 14 (4.8) | NS |
| Whoop (n [%])a | 1 (9.1) | 12 (4.1) | NS |
| Posttussive emesis (n [%])a | 0 (0) | 9 (3.1) | NS |
| Fever (temperature ≥ 38°C) (n [%]) | 5 (45.5) | 178 (61.4) | NS |
| Cyanosis (n [%]) | 1 (9.1) | 5 (1.7) | NS |
| Pneumonia (n [%])b | 7 (63.6) | 252 (86.9) | .029 |
| Seizure (n [%]) | 2 (18.2) | 15 (5.2) | NS |
| Laboratory characteristics | |||
| Admission WBC count (mean [range]) (per μl) | 20 900 (8900–36 100) | 12 579 (3000–71 900) | .024 |
| Admission ALC (mean [range]) (per μl) | 11 517 (3391–18 880) | 5591 (132–22 792) | <.001 |
| Diagnosed with pertussis by a physician (n [%]) | 3 (27.3) | 4 (1.4) | <.001 |
Abbreviations: ALC, absolute lymphocyte count; ICU, intensive care unit; NS, nonsignificant (P > .05); WBC, white blood cell.
aData collected only when cough duration exceeded 7 days.
bPresumed pneumonia, defined according to the Integrated Management of Childhood Illness clinical criteria.