Neonatal pertussis: an emerging issue of concern

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Shashi K Dhir1, Suresh K Angurana2, Venkataseshan Sundaram3

  • 1Senior Resident, Department of Pediatrics, Advanced Pediatrics Centre (APC), Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh, India.

Tropical Doctor
|August 20, 2020
PubMed

Insights

Neonatal pertussis, a resurgence of whooping cough, affects infants presenting with severe cough. Early azithromycin treatment leads to excellent outcomes, highlighting the need for prompt diagnosis and intervention in newborns.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatrics
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Neonatology

Background:

  • Neonatal pertussis (whooping cough) is experiencing a resurgence, potentially linked to declining immunity in pregnant women.
  • Early diagnosis and treatment are critical for favorable outcomes in affected infants.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To report on the clinical characteristics and treatment outcomes of neonatal pertussis cases.
  • To emphasize the importance of maintaining a high index of suspicion for pertussis in neonates with specific symptoms.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective study of seven confirmed neonatal pertussis cases (Bordetella pertussis DNA PCR positive).
  • Data collected from a tertiary care teaching hospital in North India over an eight-month period (March-October 2018).

Main Results:

  • Seven male infants (except one) aged 14-30 days presented with paroxysmal cough; four had fever, four respiratory distress, and two leucocytosis.
  • A positive family history of similar illness was noted in three cases.
  • All infants recovered well with azithromycin treatment, with hospital stays ranging from 5-7 days.

Conclusions:

  • Prompt diagnosis and appropriate treatment with azithromycin are associated with excellent prognosis in neonatal pertussis.
  • Clinicians should maintain a strong suspicion for pertussis in neonates presenting with paroxysmal cough, especially with a positive family history.

Keywords:
Newbornimmunisationpertussisrespiratory distress

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