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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.
Emerging Infectious Diseases
|July 27, 2002
Summary
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.