RATE OFPERTUSSIS AMONG IRAQ POPULATION, A RETROSPECTIVE CROSS SECTIONAL STUDY
Dr. Yasir Khudhair Abbas*
ABSTRACT
Background: Pertussis is a severe respiratory infection characterized by acute coughing attacks accompanied by difficulties in breathing and wheezing in the chest. Aim: To identify the rate of disease among population in Iraq. Method: A retrospective cross sectional study was carried out at the Life Statistics Center of the Iraqi Ministry of Health within 6months. During this period, the study samples were 941. Data was entered to Excel sheet and the STATA software program was used to analyze this data and make tables and graphs. Results: Our finding 446/941 (47.4) were male and 495/941(52.6) were female, the highest percentage of pertussis 58.9% occurred in the age group less than 5, followed by 27.6% in the age 5 to 14 years, then 2.4% in the age group more than 45 years old. The higher of incidence rate 2.60 recorded in Muthanna province, 0.92 in Babylon, then 0.83 in Thi- Qar, and the less rate was 0.01 in Al-Anbar, Salah-Al- Deen and Al-Najaf, respectively. Conclusion: Most cases with pertussis occurred in the age less than one year; the incidence rate of pertussis was higher in the south of Iraq. Early diagnosis and treatment of pertussis with a macrolide antibiotic, such as azithromycin, before the paroxysmal stage of disease can help mitigate complications and reduce the spread of this highly contagious disease.
Keywords: Pertussis, Children, Iraq, Rate, Harm.
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