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Infantile pertussis rediscovered in China
Jingmin Wang1, Yonghong Yang, Jie Li
1Beijing Children's Hospital, Capital University of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China.
Insights
Despite widespread pertussis immunization since the 1960s, six infants were diagnosed with culture-confirmed pertussis (whooping cough) in Beijing. This suggests pertussis may still occur despite vaccination efforts.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Infectious Diseases
- Immunology
Background:
- Pertussis (whooping cough) immunization was implemented in China in the 1960s.
- No culture-confirmed pertussis cases were reported nationally from the 1970s onwards.
Purpose of the Study:
- To report recent cases of culture-confirmed pertussis in infants in Beijing.
- To highlight potential underdiagnosis of pertussis in infants presenting with other respiratory illnesses.
Main Methods:
- Case series reporting clinical findings.
- Culture confirmation of Bordetella pertussis.
Main Results:
- Six infants presented with culture-confirmed pertussis at Beijing Children's Hospital.
- Initial diagnoses included other respiratory diseases, indicating potential misdiagnosis.
Conclusions:
- Pertussis remains a concern in infants, even in settings with high immunization rates.
- Clinical suspicion and appropriate diagnostic testing are crucial for identifying pertussis, especially when initial symptoms mimic other respiratory infections.
Abstract:
Immunization against pertussis was introduced in China in the 1960s. Since the 1970s, no culture-confirmed pertussis cases have been reported in the country. We report six infants with culture-confirmed pertussis, who were initially diagnosed as having other respiratory diseases at Beijing Children's Hospital, Beijing.