The chest radiograph in whooping cough

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Infectious Diseases
• Radiology
• Pulmonology

Background:

• Whooping cough (pertussis) is a contagious respiratory infection.
• Chest radiography is often used to assess complications of pertussis.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review chest radiographic findings in hospitalized patients with acute whooping cough.
• To compare current findings with historical data.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective review of chest radiographs from 238 patients hospitalized with acute whooping cough.
• Analysis of radiographic abnormalities, including consolidation, collapse, and lymphadenopathy.
• Comparison of findings based on age and clinical features.

Main Results:

• Radiographic abnormalities were detected in 63 (26%) patients.
• Pulmonary consolidation (50%), lymphadenopathy (22%), and collapse (9%) were the most common findings.
• Abnormalities were more frequent in patients aged 1 year or older (p < 0.001).
• Peribronchial consolidation was the most common type (72%).
• Findings showed a reduced frequency and altered pattern compared to 20 years prior.

Conclusions:

• Chest radiography reveals significant abnormalities in a quarter of hospitalized pertussis patients, primarily consolidation.
• Radiographic findings are more prevalent in older individuals.
• There has been a shift in the pattern and frequency of radiological abnormalities over the past two decades.