Early infantile pertussis; increasingly prevalent and potentially fatal

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C Smith1, H Vyas

  • 1Paediatric Intensive Care Unit, University Hospital, Queens Medical Centre, Nottingham, UK.

European Journal of Pediatrics
|December 29, 2000
PubMed

Insights

Severe pertussis in infants under 7 weeks presents atypically and is difficult to manage. This resurgence highlights the need to protect vulnerable infants before immunization.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatrics
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Pertussis (whooping cough) is a highly contagious respiratory infection.
  • Infants less than 7 weeks old are particularly vulnerable due to their immature immune systems and pre-vaccination status.

Observation:

  • Nine cases of severe early pertussis in infants under 7 weeks were reported.
  • Clinical presentations were atypical, mimicking common infant illnesses like bronchiolitis.
  • Infants required significant medical intervention, including ventilation for apnea and respiratory failure.

Findings:

  • Complications were frequent and severe, including hypotension, seizures, pneumothoraces, and co-infections.
  • Two infants required extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO).
  • Six out of nine infants (67%) died from the infection.

Implications:

  • The findings suggest a concerning resurgence of pertussis in a highly vulnerable population.
  • Urgent review of infant immunization schedules and strategies to prevent secondary transmission are necessary.
  • Protecting pre-immunized infants from pertussis is critical to reduce mortality and morbidity.
Abstract

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