Tosferina como enfermedad reemergente. Situación epidemiológica en la provincia de Salamanca

Abstract

Objetives

Describe the evolution and characteristics of confirmed pertussis cases during the last 5 years, detect possible underreporting, study the burden of the pertussis on healthcare system at the current time and assess the effect of vaccination.

Material and methods

Retrospective observational study of pertussis cases reported in the province of Salamanca and patients diagnosed with pertussis by PCR by the Microbiology of the reference hospital, from January 2018 to March 2024.

Results

A total of 58 cases of pertussis were detected, 42 correspond to the period November 2023 – March 2024. Thirty-five (60.3%) were reported as EDO. A total of 48% were not vaccinated, and the average time from the last dose of the vaccine to diagnóstico in vaccinated people was 136.3 days (SD 40) in children under 1 year of age and 605.3 days (SD 407) in the 1–4 year-old group. Twelve cases (20.7%) required hospitalization (3 under 1 year old, 1 under 2 years old, 1 under 7 years old, 2 between 34 and 64 years old and 5 over 65 years old), of which 7 (58.3%) were not vaccinated.

Conclusions

The epidemiological evolution of pertussis shows a significant increase in 2023–2024, both in childhood and in adulthood, despite detecting underreporting. Vaccination is one of the fundamental strategies for the prevention of pertussis, the risk of which increases with the time elapsed since the last dose of vaccine, so vaccination coverage should be promoted in all age groups and in specific groups of risk, with the introduction of diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis in booster doses.