Related Experiment Videos
Children with persistent cough--outcome with treatment and role of Moraxella catarrhalis?
1Department of Pediatrics, Sachsska Barnsjukhuset, Dalen Clinic, Enskededalen, Sweden.
Insights
Amoxycillin/clavulanic acid improved recovery in children with persistent cough. Moraxella catarrhalis was frequently found and may play a role in this condition.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Infectious Diseases
- Microbiology
Background:
- Persistent cough in children is a common clinical problem.
- The etiology of persistent cough is often multifactorial, including bacterial infections.
- Moraxella catarrhalis is a common nasopharyngeal colonizer in children.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the efficacy of amoxycillin/clavulanic acid in treating severe persistent cough in children.
- To identify the bacterial pathogens involved in persistent cough.
- To explore the role of Moraxella catarrhalis in the pathogenesis of persistent cough.
Main Methods:
- Prospective, double-blinded, randomized controlled study.
- 52 children with severe persistent cough (>10 days) were enrolled.
- Nasopharyngeal swabs were analyzed for bacterial colonization; patients received amoxycillin/clavulanic acid or placebo.
Main Results:
- Moraxella catarrhalis was the predominant isolate (71%), followed by Haemophilus influenzae (30%) and Streptococcus pneumoniae (20%).
- Laboratory-confirmed pertussis was present in 23% of children.
- The antibiotic group showed significantly better recovery rates (p=0.02 pediatrician, p=0.002 parental assessment).
Conclusions:
- Amoxycillin/clavulanic acid treatment is effective in managing severe persistent cough in children.
- Moraxella catarrhalis is a potential causative agent in pediatric persistent cough.
- Further research is warranted to elucidate the direct role of Moraxella catarrhalis in persistent cough pathogenesis.
Abstract:
52 children with severe cough persisting for more than 10 days were randomized to treatment with amoxycillin/clavulanic acid or placebo in a prospective double-blinded study. Clinically suspected cases of pertussis were excluded, yet 12 (23%) of the children had laboratory verified pertussis infection. The nasopharyngeal colonization showed a predominance of Moraxella catarrhalis which was isolated in 37 (71%) children. Streptococcus pneumoniae and Haemophilus influenzae were isolated in 11 (20%) and 16 (30%) children, respectively. The antibiotic-treated group had a significantly better recovery in both the pediatrician's estimation (p = 0.02) and the independent parental judgement (p = 0.002). These findings are consistent with the view that Moraxella catarrhalis could be directly involved in the pathogenesis of persistent cough in children.