Rapidly fatal invasive pertussis in young infants : how can we change the outcome?

Although vaccination of infants has greatly reduced morbidity and mortality in children, the incidence of pertussis is rising in the non-pediatric population. In adults persistent cough for more than two weeks is the cardinal feature of pertussis, but with a wide differential and an atypical course,...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:	BMJ. British medical journal (International ed.) Vol. 338; no. 7687; pp. 172 - 174
Main Authors:	THEILEN, U, JOHNSTON, E. D, ROBINSON, P. A
Format:	Journal Article
Language:	English
Published:	London British Medical Association 17-01-2009 BMJ Publishing Group
Edition:	International edition
Subjects:	Babies Bacterial diseases Biological and medical sciences Ent and stomatologic bacterial diseases General aspects Human bacterial diseases Immunization Infectious diseases Medical sciences Whooping cough Human Infection Medicine Prognosis Respiratory disease Bacteriosis Evolution Infant Change Fatal course Whooping cough
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Summary:	Although vaccination of infants has greatly reduced morbidity and mortality in children, the incidence of pertussis is rising in the non-pediatric population. In adults persistent cough for more than two weeks is the cardinal feature of pertussis, but with a wide differential and an atypical course, pertussis is often undiagnosed. Infectious adults in a family are the main source of infection for unimmunized infants. Here, Theilen et al report two fatal cases of invasive pertussis in unvaccinated infants.
ISSN:	0959-8146