Abstract
Despite worldwide vaccination pertussis incidence is still increasing in recent years and co-infection with respiratory viruses is described. Our aim was to analyze clinical features of infants hospitalized for pertussis and coinfected with respiratory viruses. From Nov 2012-Feb 2014, we enrolled 39 infants (median age 73d range 17-198d; 24M) hospitalized for pertussis at Pediatric Emergency Unit, “Sapienza” University of Rome and Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital. Clinical data were obtained from clinical charts. B.pertussis and 14 respiratory viruses were detected by RT-PCR on nasal aspirates. Among infants enrolled, 6(15.4%)had been vaccinated, 34(87.2%)were breastfed, 30(76.9%)had siblings, 13(33.3%)had smoking cohabitants, and 28(71.8%)had relatives with respiratory symptoms. 32 infants(82.1%)presented paroxysmal cough, 21(53.8%)cyanosis, and 28(71.8%)apnea. Pertussis spread followed the typical infection epidemic
curve(84.6% of cases between Apr-Nov). 13 infants(Group1, median age 83.0d range 22-198; 8M)resulted coinfected by viruses(6 Rhinovirus, 2 RV+Parainfluenza Virus, 2 Coronavirus, 1 RSV, 1 Adenovirus, 1 Influenza Virus
B) and 26 had pertussis only (Group2, median age 63.0d range 17-175; 16M). Group1 had a higher gestational age (39.2±1.5 vs 37.9±1.6w, p<0.02) and birth weight (3.4±0.4 vs 3.0±0.4kg, p<0.02) than group 2. Fever was detected in 7 Group1 infants(53.8%)rather than none in group2 (p<0.001). No significant differences were found between the two groups in terms of clinical symptoms, laboratory data and severity. In conclusion one third of infants with pertussis had viral coinfections, but no clinical differences were observed between infants with only pertussis and those with pertussis and viruses.
- © 2014 ERS
