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Cerebral spinal fluid positive pertussis encephalopathy in infants: Case reports
Ta Anh Tuan1, Tran Dang Xoay1, Phung Thi Bich Thuy2
1Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, Vietnam National Children's Hospital, Hanoi, Vietnam.
Insights
Pertussis (whooping cough) can cause severe neurological issues in infants. Detecting Bordetella pertussis in cerebrospinal fluid is crucial for diagnosing pertussis-associated encephalopathy.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Infectious Diseases
- Neurology
Background:
- Pertussis (whooping cough) is a growing public health concern globally, despite high vaccination rates.
- Pertussis-associated encephalopathy is a serious complication, but its underlying mechanisms and the bacteria's role remain unclear.
Observation:
- Three infants under three months old presented with neurological symptoms like lethargy, encephalopathy, and seizures.
- Bordetella pertussis DNA was confirmed in the cerebrospinal fluid of all three infants via polymerase chain reaction (PCR).
Findings:
- One infant died, while the other two recovered with normal neurological examinations.
- Cerebrospinal fluid analysis, including PCR, is vital for diagnosing pertussis-associated encephalopathy.
Implications:
- Early diagnosis and understanding the pathophysiology of pertussis-associated encephalopathy are critical.
- This highlights the need for prompt cerebrospinal fluid analysis in infants with suspected pertussis and neurological symptoms.
Abstract:
Pertussis has re-emerged in both developed and developing countries and is an ongoing public health problem, even in countries with high rates of vaccination. Pertussis encephalopathy is a known complication of the disease, but the pathophysiology of this complication and the role of the pertussis bacteria have not been elucidated. We report three confirmed cases of pertussis infant younger than 3 months of age with neurological complications including lethargy, encephalopathy, and seizures. In each case, the cerebrospinal fluid was positive for Bordetella pertussis as determined by polymerase chain reaction. One patient did not survive and two were discharged with a normal neurological exam on follow-up. The cases emphasize the importance of analyzing cerebrospinal fluid in cases of pertussis-associated encephalopathy including polymerase chain reaction.
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