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[Systematic family screening in case of infant pertussis]

E Bosdure1, J Raymond, C Cosnes-Lambe

  • 1Service de pédiatrie, hôpital Saint-Vincent-de-Paul-Cochin, 82 avenue Denfert-Rochereau, Paris cedex 14, France.

Medecine Et Maladies Infectieuses
|August 22, 2008
PubMed

Insights

Close relatives are the primary source of pertussis (whooping cough) in infants. Many adults have atypical or no symptoms, yet spread the highly contagious respiratory illness.

Area of Science:

  • Infectious Diseases
  • Pediatrics
  • Epidemiology

Context:

  • Pertussis (whooping cough) poses a significant risk to young infants.
  • Traditionally, diagnosis relied on serology and culture.
  • The introduction of Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) improved diagnostic capabilities.

Purpose:

  • To investigate the origin of pertussis (whooping cough) in hospitalized infants.
  • To identify the role of close family contacts in disease transmission.
  • To characterize the clinical presentation of pertussis in adult contacts.

Summary:

  • Screening of families of hospitalized infants revealed high rates of pertussis infection among adult contacts (21/48 pre-PCR, 35/85 post-PCR).
  • Mothers were more frequently infected than fathers.
  • A significant proportion of infected adults (60% with nonparoxysmal cough, 40% asymptomatic) did not exhibit typical pertussis symptoms.
  • None of the parents had received recommended pertussis booster vaccinations.

Impact:

  • Highlights the high prevalence of asymptomatic or atypical pertussis in adult family members of infected infants.
  • Underscores the critical role of unvaccinated or under-vaccinated adults in the transmission of pertussis to vulnerable infants.
  • Suggests a need for improved adult vaccination strategies to protect infants from pertussis.

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