Whooping cough in Nigerian children
Morley, D.; Woodland, M.; Martin, W.J.
Trop Geogr Med 18(3): 165-182
1966
Document Number: 520597
Evidence suggests that whooping cough is a severe and dangerous disease in the preindustrial countries of the tropics. The median age in the Imesi village study was 2.2 years, and similar to that given in the records of whooping cough supplied by 66 doctors in 21 preindustrial countries. The mortality among young children was high; 13 out of 206 children with whooping cough in the village died. In the parent hospital at Hesha there was a mortality of 15% among 479 whooping cough admissions. Comparison is made with the high mortality in the past in England, particularly among children living under poor socio-economic conditions. The greater severity of whooping cough in female children frequently observed elsewhere, was noted inthellesha Hospital. In this hospital the higher mortality from convulsions in female children may be partly responsible. There was considerable weight loss following whooping cough, and a proportion of the children failed to recover this weight for several mo. Whooping cough is responsible for children developing the syndromes of protein-calorie deficiency. Dietary marasmus was more common than kwashiorkor as a sequel to whooping cough, particularly when it developed in the first few mo. of life. In a study village the introduction of protective inoculation virtually eliminated the disease.