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[Hooping cough in adults, think about it!]
A Toukouki1, F Frippiat, N Frusch
1Universiti de Libge, Belgique.
Revue Medicale De Liege
|June 13, 2013
Summary
Persistent cough in adults can indicate Bordetella pertussis infection, commonly known as whooping cough. Early diagnosis and macrolide treatment are crucial for rapid symptom resolution.
Area of Science:
- Infectious Diseases
- Microbiology
- Public Health
Background:
- Adults can present with atypical symptoms of Bordetella pertussis infection, including persistent cough.
- Delayed diagnosis of pertussis can lead to prolonged illness and potential transmission.
Observation:
- A 47-year-old male presented with a persistent nocturnal cough lasting over three weeks, unresponsive to amoxicillin-clavulanic acid.
- Diagnostic investigations, including serology, were required to identify Bordetella pertussis infection.
- The patient's wife was also diagnosed with whooping cough.
Findings:
- Serological testing confirmed Bordetella pertussis infection in the male patient after two months of symptoms.
- Symptoms gradually improved, but macrolide treatment showed no evident benefit.
- The wife experienced rapid symptom resolution following prompt macrolide treatment.
Implications:
- Highlights the importance of considering Bordetella pertussis in adult persistent cough differential diagnoses.
- Suggests that early antibiotic intervention may be more effective in pertussis cases.
- Underscores the potential for adult-to-adult transmission within households.
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