Increasing Incidence of Life-threatening Pertussis: A Retrospective Cohort Study in New Zealand.

Background: Pertussis immunization programs aim to prevent severe infant disease. We investigated temporal trends in infant pertussis deaths and pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) admissions and associations of changes in disease detection and vaccines used with death and PICU admission rates.

Methods: Using national data from New Zealand (NZ), we described infant pertussis deaths and PICU admissions from 1991 to 2013, over which time national immunization coverage at 2 years of age increased from <80% to 92%.

'A child restraint for every child on every trip'.

Child passenger injury from road traffic crashes is a leading contributor to New Zealand's paediatric trauma-related mortality and morbidity. New Zealand has significantly higher rates of child passenger injury than internationally comparable countries. Correctly used child restraints can prevent death and severe injury of child passengers.

ATV (quad bike) injuries in New Zealand children: their extent and severity.

Aims: Primary: To ascertain how many New Zealand (NZ) children are being injured or killed as the result of all-terrain vehicle (ATV) injuries and to define the nature and severity of their injuries. Secondary: to examine the effect of age, weight, helmet use, and ATV size on injury severity and to compare the demographics of injury in NZ to other countries.

Methods: A retrospective review was undertaken of 643 cases of children less than 16 years old hospitalised between 2000-2006 due to possible ATV-related injury.

Pertussis requiring intensive care.

Objectives: To describe children with pertussis who require intensive care.

Design, Setting And Patients: An audit in Auckland, New Zealand, of pertussis admissions to the national paediatric intensive care unit (PICU) from 1991 to 2003.

Results: 72 children, 97% of whom were <12 months old.

Safe restraint of the child passenger.

Aim: The aim of this study was to understand the need for, and use of, booster seats in the 4-12 years age group and to identify risk factors for booster seat-non-use.

Method: A cross-sectional sample of 1101 children aged 4-12 years travelling in 663 privately owned vehicles was taken from the Auckland region. Auckland is New Zealand's largest population centre, with a population of over 1.