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Pertussis: a cluster of linked cases in the United Kingdom, 2006

C Weerasinghe1, A Fernandes, J Bagaria

  • 1Thames Valley Health Protection Unit, Oxford, England, United Kingdom. chisha_wickrema@yahoo.com

Euro Surveillance : Bulletin Europeen Sur Les Maladies Transmissibles = European Communicable Disease Bulletin
|November 10, 2007
PubMed

Insights

This study highlights a pertussis (whooping cough) outbreak in a UK family, emphasizing atypical adult presentation and the critical need for infant protection. Prompt diagnosis and contact management are vital for preventing severe complications in vulnerable populations.

Area of Science:

  • Public Health
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Epidemiology

Background:

  • Pertussis (whooping cough) is a vaccine-preventable respiratory illness.
  • Atypical presentation in adults and adolescents complicates pertussis diagnosis.
  • Young children face a high risk of severe pertussis complications.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To report a family cluster of pertussis cases in the UK.
  • To emphasize pertussis as a differential diagnosis for prolonged respiratory symptoms.
  • To underscore the importance of contact tracing and management in preventing infant infections.

Main Methods:

  • Case investigation of a linked family cluster involving adults and an infant.
  • Clinical assessment of symptoms consistent with pertussis.
  • Laboratory confirmation of pertussis in an infant case.

Main Results:

  • A cluster of three unvaccinated adults and one unvaccinated infant diagnosed with pertussis was identified.
  • The infant case required hospitalization.
  • The transmission occurred within a family unit across the UK.

Conclusions:

  • Pertussis should be considered in patients with prolonged respiratory symptoms, even in adults.
  • Rapid identification and management of close contacts are crucial.
  • Protecting infants from pertussis through prompt intervention is paramount.

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