Clinical study on 45 cases of adult and adolescent pertussis

We studied 45 cases of adult and adolescent pertussis. The diagnosis of pertussis was made by two criteria. 1) 4-fold increase in antibody against B. pertussis with paired sera (A group: 15 cases). 2) Titer of anti PT antibody above 100 EU/ml (B group: 30 cases). Paroxysmal cough was 100% in A and B group, whooping cough was present 93% in A group, 92% in B group, posttussive vomiting was 78% in A group, 67% in B group. Familial infection was 18 cases of 15 families (33%). Marked lymphocytosis was not detected in any stage of pertussis. When initial examination was made 3-4 weeks after cough onset, the proof of 4-fold increase in antibody against B. pertussis with paired sera was low. Nine cases (20%) of 45 adult and adolescent pertussis cases had bronchial asthma, but bronchial asthma did not prolong the duration of cough. As proof of 4-fold increase in antibody against B. pertussis with paired sera in adult and adolescent pertussis is difficult, it is expected that the cut-off point of antibody titer against B. pertussis in single sera is determinated rapidly.     

Pertussis in an adult man infected with the human immunodeficiency virus

A 25-year-old man infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) presented with paroxysmal cough and dyspnea of 4-months duration. An extensive evaluation including bronchoscopy was negative. A nasopharyngeal swab was positive by direct fluorescent antigen detection and culture for Bordetella pertussis. Respiratory isolation, treatment with erythromycin, and prophylaxis of household contacts was used to eradicate the organism and prevent transmission. Pertussis should be considered as a cause of prolonged cough and dyspnea in patients with HIV infection. The course of this patient was consistent with the concept that cell-mediated immunity is necessary for elimination of B. pertussis.     

A pertussis outbreak in a ward for severely retarded]

In June 2000, many cases with persistent cough were observed among inpatients and the staff of a ward for severely retarded. Some of them had symptoms suggestive of pertussis, such as whooping, post-tussive apnea. We performed a retrospective investigation to assess symptoms and serological findings suspicious of pertussis. There were a total of 14 cases of persistent cough over 3 weeks (4 to 9 weeks). 6 cases were inpatients and 8 were hospital staff. Of those, serological test for pertussis infection was performed in 10 cases and 6 cases were diagnosed as serologically confirmed pertussis. The other cases with persistent cough were also considered to be probable pertussis as they have had intensive contact with serologically confirmed cases. 12 cases were treated by antibiotics, but they all failed to respond. It was suggested that Bordetella pertussis must be considered as a causal organism of persistent cough even in adults. To prevent nosocomial transmission of pertussis, droplet precautions and macrolide treatment should be provided for patients with symptoms highly suggestive of pertussis.     

Cough symptoms in children aged 5–14 years in Sydney,Australia: non‐specific cough or unrecognized pertussis?

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to estimate the community prevalence of coughing symptoms, consistent with surveillance definitions for pertussis, and doctor-diagnosed pertussis in children aged 5-14 years. METHODOLOGY: A telephone survey of a cross-sectional community sample of parents regarding their child's cough symptoms in the previous 12 months was undertaken in a representative Australian urban region. RESULTS: In 2020 interviews, parents reported that 22% of children had a cough lasting 2 weeks or longer in the preceding 12 months, and 14% (283) had additional symptoms meeting the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) case definition for pertussis. A cough meeting the case definition was significantly more commonly reported by parents of children aged 5-9 years (17%; P < 0.001) but reported exposure to diagnosed pertussis in such cases was significantly more common in children aged 10-14 years (4.3%; odds ratio 12.8; P < 0.01). Parents of 90% of children meeting the CDC case definition sought medical advice. A diagnosis of pertussis was reported in only 1.2% of cases, which extrapolates to an annual incidence of doctor-diagnosed pertussis of 347/100,000 (95% confidence interval, 140-714 per 100,000). This contrasts with 29/100,000 notified cases in the same age group, time period and geographic area. CONCLUSION: Cough episodes meeting a clinical case definition for pertussis commonly used in surveillance are reported by a high proportion of carers of school-aged children in Australia. The majority of children who met the CDC and Australian case definitions for pertussis and sought medical attention were not identified as potentially having pertussis, suggesting underdiagnosis of pertussis. Even if less than half of this is true pertussis, the potential impact in terms of transmission of pertussis in the community is likely to be high. The reported incidence of doctor-diagnosed disease estimated from this survey was at least five and up to 20 times the official notification rate. More work needs to be done in raising awareness among medical practitioners of pertussis as a differential diagnosis in older children and adolescents with cough.     

Pertussis-induced cough

Pertussis (whooping cough) is one of the commonest vaccine preventable diseases in the UK, despite vaccination coverage being maintained for the last 15 years at over 90% among infants and the addition of a pre-school booster to the UK national immunisation programme in 2001. However, it is known that pertussis vaccine does not confer long-term immunity to clinical infection. Evidence of pertussis infection has been reported in 37% of children presenting in UK primary care and 20% of adolescents and adults presenting in Canadian health centres with persistent cough. In children and adults with persistent cough, paroxysmal coughing is the most sensitive indicator of pertussis, but has poor specificity and limited diagnostic value. Vomiting and whooping, particularly in combination, are stronger predictors of pertussis. Cough duration is longer in children than in adults with pertussis (median cough duration 112 days versus 42 days); individuals may take even longer to recover fully and regain previous levels of exercise tolerance. A diagnosis of pertussis may be confirmed by culture, Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) or serology. Single estimates of anti-pertussis toxin (PT) antibody titres in blood or oral fluid samples are highly specific. There are currently no proven efficacious treatments for pertussis-induced cough. Treatment with macrolide antibiotics reduces the duration of an individual's infectious period, but does not alter the duration of cough. Further research is needed to re-examine the epidemiology of pertussis in countries with different vaccination schedules, find efficacious treatments and develop methods of measuring cough frequency and severity in patients with pertussis-induced cough.     

Human parainfluenza virus type 3 (HPIV 3) community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) mimicking pertussis in an adult: the diagnostic importance of hoarseness and monocytosis

Background

There are relatively few causes of acute community-acquired pneumonias (CAPs) in adults associated with prolonged cough. In adults the most common acute CAPs with a prominent and persistent nonproductive cough are due to Mycoplasma pneumoniae, Chlamydophilia (Chlamydia) pneumoniae, or Bordetella pertussis (pertussis). Pertussis is an underrecognized and underappreciated cause of CAP in adults. Different from classic pertussis in children, pertussis in adults presents with prolonged dry cough, that is, the “100-day cough.” In pertussis, the characteristic nonspecific laboratory findings are leukocytosis and relative lymphocytosis. Dry cough accompanied by hoarseness with CAP in an adult should suggest C. pneumoniae or a respiratory virus (eg, influenza, parainfluenza, respiratory syncytial virus).

Methods

We present the case of a young woman who presented with a prominent and persistent pertussis-like cough with hoarseness. She had no leukocytosis or relative lymphopenia, which argued against the diagnosis of pertussis. Notably, she had persistent monocytosis. Her protracted pertussis-like cough that persisted during her hospitalization was so impressive that the diagnostic impression was pertussis. Direct fluorescent antibody (FA) and throat cultures were negative for pertussis. Furthermore, her hoarseness suggested the possibility of C. pneumoniae, but her C. pneumoniae immunoglobulin-M titer was negative.

Results

Because C. pneumoniae was ruled out, her hoarseness suggested a respiratory viral cause. A respiratory FA viral panel and viral throat cultures were obtained. The respiratory FA viral panel was negative for influenza A/B, respiratory syncytial virus, metapneumovirus, adenovirus, cytomegalovirus, and parainfluenza viruses. However, her viral throat cultures grew parainfluenza virus type 3 (HPIV 3), confirming the diagnosis.

Conclusion

To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case of HPIV 3 CAP presenting with a prominent and persistent pertussoid cough in an adult mimicking pertussis with hoarseness and monocytosis.     

Bordetella pertussis, Bordetella parapertussis, Mycoplasma pneumoniae, Chlamydia pneumoniae and persistent cough in children.

Material collected during a prospective pertussis vaccine trial in 1992-95 was examined for Bordetella pertussis (culture and serology), Bordetella parapertussis (culture), Mycoplasma pneumoniae and Chlamydia pneumoniae (PCR). From 64% (99/155) of episodes with cough for less than 100 d, 115 aetiological agents were identified in one southern and one northern subset of DT-recipients. The most common single agent was B. pertussis, representing 56%(64/115), with a median cough period of 51 d, followed by M. pneumoniae 26%(30/115), 23 d, C. pneumoniae 17% (19/115), 26 d, and B. parapertussis 2% (2/115). For co-infections, the median duration of cough was about 60 d. Spasmodic cough for 21 d or more (clinical WHO criteria for pertussis) was present in 82% (41/50) of infections with B. pertussis as single agent, 38% (17/45) with B. parapertussis, 38% (5/13) with C. pneumoniae, 26% (5/19) with M. pneumoniae and 30%(17/56) in cases where no aetiology was found. In children with cough for more than 100 d (n = 78) using all vaccine arms, B. pertussis was responsible in 83% (65/78), in 21%(16/78) together with other agents. Acellular vaccines were more efficient against serious disease than whole cell vaccine. Antibiotic treatment was more common at the southern (34%) study site than at the northern one (12%). The findings indicate that diagnosis should rely on laboratory confirmation, both for rational treatment of an individual case and for monitoring outbreaks.     

Psychogenic cough in a schoolboy: evaluation using an ambulatory cough recorder

Psychogenic cough occurs most commonly in patients under 18 years of age. Making the diagnosis on clinical features alone is problematic, and it is usually a diagnosis of exclusion after several negative clinical investigations. We report on the case of a 13-year-old schoolboy with a 3-month history of persistent dry cough with no other associated symptoms. Clinical examination and investigations revealed no abnormality, and empirical trials of antiasthma and antacid medications proved unsuccessful. An objective assessment of his cough frequency was made using an ambulatory cough monitor. A large number of cough episodes were recorded during the day, but during the time he was in bed there were very few episodes recorded. This suggested a diagnosis of psychogenic cough, and he underwent behavior modification therapy under the guidance of a clinical psychologist, with good result. Objective cough monitoring may therefore improve the evaluation and management of chronic cough.     

Evidence of Bordetella pertussis infection in adults presenting with persistent cough in a french area with very high whole-cell vaccine coverage

Although France has had a vaccination program for 40 years, since 1990, an increase in whooping cough cases with parent-infant transmission has been observed. This study prospectively assessed the frequency of Bordetella pertussis infection in adults who consulted general practitioners for a persistent cough without an evident diagnosis. Among 217 patients, 70 (32%) confirmed whooping cough cases were identified. One case was culture positive, 36 were polymerase chain reaction positive, and 40 had increases or decreases of > or =2-fold in anti-pertussis toxin IgG titer between serum samples collected during the acute and convalescent phases. The median duration of cough in confirmed cases was 49 days (range, 13-123 days). Of the patients, 60% reported vaccination, and 33% reported whooping cough in infancy. Pertussis should be considered for diagnosis of acute and chronic cough in adults. Future studies should evaluate the public health interest of booster doses of pertussis vaccine in adults.     

Evolución de los casos de tosferina tras la vacunación de la embarazada y la pandemia COVID-19

BackgroundWhooping cough has had an increased incidence and severity specially in infants and maternal immunization has been implemented as a prevention strategy. COVID-19 pandemic seems to decrease the incidence of other respiratory diseases.MethodsRetrospective study from 2012 to 2021 to assess the influence of pertussis maternal immunizations and the first year of COVID-19 pandemic in the cases of whooping cough.Results960 suspected cases from primary care and hospital, with 130 cases (104 children and 26 adults) being diagnosed of whooping cough. In the post-vaccination period, a reduction in the cases and severity in infants up to 6 months old was observed as well as in the pertussis diagnosis in adult women. There were no whooping cough cases during the COVID-19 period.ConclusionsBoth the pertussis vaccination in pregnancy and the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic have decreased the number of pertussis cases.     

Bronchiectasis masquerading as pulmonary embolus

The diagnosis of bronchiectasis usually suggests a patient with a productive cough and shortness of breath. This report describes the case history of an otherwise healthy 43-year-old man who presented with repetitive episodes of pleuritic pain that led to several extensive, invasive evaluations in search of a pulmonary embolus. Only after a carefully taken history did the patient admit to an intermittent chronic cough, which suggested the diagnosis of bronchiectasis. This diagnosis was ultimately confirmed by bronchography. This report suggests that patients with bronchiectasis may present with unusual clinical manifestations, and that the correct diagnosis may be missed unless physicians are aware that "old" diseases may present in "new" ways.     

Frequency of pertussis in children with prolongued cough

To determine the frequency of pertussis in children < or = 16 y who had prolonged cough (> or = 14 d), a prospective study was conducted at an outpatient clinic of a paediatric hospital. Nasopharyngeal swabs were taken for culture and nucleic acid testing by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for Bordetella pertussis. Immunoglobulin A and immunoglobulin G antibodies against pertussis toxin (PT) were tested by ELISA in paired serum samples. A total of 148 patients were recruited during 1 y. Pertussis was detected in 25 (16.9%) patients with at least 1 of the tests. PCR was positive in 12 patients, and 9 cases was diagnosed serologically. Both PCR and serology were positive in 4 children. Duration of cough was longer in the patients with pertussis (median 33 vs 20, p = 0.03). Seropositivity of pertussis toxin was higher in pertussis negative patients during enrollment (24% vs 65%, p = 0.005). From the results of this study, B. pertussis seems to be common in our population despite high immunization rates with whole cell vaccine. Although the duration of cough is defined as longer than 21 d in some studies for pertussis case definition criteria, it was shorter than this in 3 of our cases.     

Effects of Early Administration of Macrolides on Whooping Cough in Adolescents and Adults: A Single-center Retrospective Cohort Study

Objective This study aimed to elucidate the effects of early macrolide administration on genetically confirmed pertussis-induced cough in adolescents and adults. Methods This single-center, retrospective cohort study examined the effects of the early administration of macrolides and antitussive agents on cough secondary to pertussis. We divided the patients into two groups based on the median duration from the beginning of the cough to the initiation of macrolide administration: early macrolide administration group (EMAG) and non-early macrolide administration group (NEMAG). The clinical improvement of cough was defined as maintaining a cough awareness score of ≤3 points for 3 consecutive days. Patients The medical records of 40 patients diagnosed with pertussis (≥12 years old) who were able to maintain a cough diary and received no other antibiotics aside from macrolides were included in the study. A diagnosis of pertussis was made using the loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) test. Results The EMAG (24 patients) showed a significantly shorter total cough period than the NEMAG [16 patients; 20.0 (95% confidence interval (CI), 16-28) vs. 30.5 (95% CI, 27-40) days; log-rank test, p=0.002]. There was no significant difference in the post-administration cough periods between the EMAG and NEMAG [11.0 (95% CI, 7-19) vs. 13.0 (95% CI, 5-23) days; log-rank test, p=0.232]. Antitussive agents did not affect the cough. Conclusion The early administration of macrolides, but not antitussive agents, is effective for treating pertussis. Therefore, macrolides should be administered as soon as possible for this disease.     

Pertussis and parapertussis in children and adults with a persistent cough: an observational study

Purpose

We aimed to determine the prevalence, symptoms and course of pertussis and parapertussis among patients at any age with a cough of unknown aetiology that had lasted for ≥ 7 days and to assess the diagnostic value of the symptoms included in the World Health Organisations’ (WHO) clinical case definition of pertussis.

Methods

Patients were enrolled between the 23 April 2012 and 31 December 2014 at 25 general practitioner (GP) centres and three paediatric hospitals. Pertussis was confirmed by culture and/or polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and/or quantitative serology. Parapertussis was confirmed by culture and/or PCR.

Results

Altogether, 549 patients were recruited. Of them, 22 (4.0%; 95% CI 2.5–6.0) had pertussis (predominately diagnosed by positive serology 17/22) and 7 (1.3%; 95% CI 0.5–2.6) had parapertussis. Patients with pertussis were more likely to have inspiratory whooping and posttussive emesis than those with a cough of another/unknown aetiology. However, the presence or absence of these two symptoms did not definitively confirm or exclude pertussis. The sensitivity and specificity of the WHO’s clinical definition was 0.77 and 0.38, respectively.

Conclusions

The prevalence of pertussis and parapertussis among patients with a persistent cough of unknown aetiology in Estonia is low. As clinical symptoms alone cannot be used to distinguish pertussis, we recommend that laboratory testing for pertussis is performed in all patients with a persistent cough regardless of age.

     

Persistent Bordetella bronchiseptica pneumonia in an immunocompetent infant and genetic comparison of clinical isolates with kennel cough vaccine strains.

An infant who experienced recurrent episodes of respiratory failure received a diagnosis of pertussis on the basis of immunofluorescence testing, but culture revealed macrolide-resistant Bordetella bronchiseptica. Genetic analysis demonstrated that the child was not infected with a kennel cough vaccine strain, although the family's dog had recently been vaccinated. The infection cleared with imipenem therapy.     

Evidence of efficacy of the Lederle/Takeda acellular pertussis component diphtheria and tetanus toxoids and pertussis vaccine but not the Lederle whole-cell component diphtheria and tetanus toxoids and pertussis vaccine against Bordetella parapertussis infection.

A subanalysis of a recent cohort efficacy trial of a pertussis vaccine was performed to determine its efficacy against cough illnesses due to Bordetella parapertussis infections. Infants received four doses of either the Lederle/Takeda acellular pertussis component diphtheria and tetanus toxoids and pertussis (DTaP) vaccine or the Lederle whole-cell component diphtheria and tetanus toxoids and pertussis (DTP) vaccine at 3, 4.5, 6, and 15-18 months of age; controls received three doses of diphtheria and tetanus toxoids (DT) vaccine only. All subjects were prospectively followed for cough illnesses of > or = 7 days' duration; cases of B. parapertussis infection were confirmed by positive culture, household contact, or serology. Seventy-six cough illnesses due to B. parapertussis were identified; 24 occurred in 929 DTaP recipients, 37 in 937 DTP recipients, and 15 in 321 DT recipients, resulting in an efficacy of 50% for DTaP vaccine (95% CI [confidence interval], 5% to 74%) and 21% for DTP vaccine (95% CI, -45% to 56%). The data in the present analysis suggest that the Lederle/Takeda DTaP vaccine but not the Lederle whole-cell component DTP vaccine has efficacy against B. parapertussis infection.     

Misting-fountain-alveolitis

A 22-year-old woman developed recurrent episodes of fever, cough and dyspnea after repeated exposure to a misting fountain at home. A diagnosis of extrinsic allergic alveolitis (EAA) was made by detection of serum antibodies against the fountain water, by culture of Bacillus subtilis, Mucor racemosus, Mucor mucedo, and Saccharomyces cerevisiae from the water, and by detection of specific IgG antibodies against Bacillus subtilis and the Mucores. The diagnosis was confirmed by a restrictive lung function pattern, and a highly increased total cell count with a lymphocytosis of 39 % in the bronchoalveolar lavage. An inhalation challenge with the misting fountain resulted in a positive reaction. Because this humidifier system has recently become widespread at home, clinicians should be aware of this specific type of EAA which may be called "misting fountain alveolitis".     

Cough reflex by ventricular premature contractions

A 72-year-old man was referred for further assessment of a chronic cough. He noticed an association between the episodes of coughing and palpitations. Electrocardiography (ECG) revealed normal sinus rhythm and sporadic unifocal ventricular premature contractions (VPCs). Each cough was preceded by a premature beat. Continuous wave Doppler echocardiography revealed a VPC-induced transient increase in the pulmonary artery blood flow. He was successfully treated for VPCs with oral disopyramide, resulting in subsidence of both the coughing and palpitations. We suspect that the VPC-induced hemodynamic changes in the pulmonary circulation might be responsible for coughing in our patient. Premature contractions should be considered as a possible cause of chronic dry cough in the clinical setting.     

Clinical manifestations of Bordetella pertussis infection in immunized children and young adults.

STUDY OBJECTIVES: The incidence and prevalence of pertussis in adults have increased in recent years. It has been shown that previously immunized adults and adolescents are the main sources of transmission of Bordetella pertussis. The aim of this study was to describe the clinical presentation and the clinical course of pertussis in children and young adults who were immunized previously against B pertussis. DESIGN: Retrospective study. SUBJECTS: Children and young adults who were reported by local physicians to the Department of Epidemiology in the Israeli Ministry of Health with serologically confirmed pertussis and who were immunized previously were included. Information sought included personal data, epidemiologic data, signs and symptoms, laboratory results, initial diagnosis, and treatment. RESULTS: In the 95 previously immunized patients with serologically confirmed pertussis (mean age [+/- SD], 8.9 +/- 4.4 years old; range, 5 to 30 years old), the mean duration from onset of symptoms until the final diagnosis of pertussis was 23 +/- 15 days. The disease was usually atypical and generally mild. All the described patients had cough, usually prolonged, lasting 4 +/- 3.6 weeks. Only 6% had the classic whoop. The mean WBC count was 8.7 +/- 2.6 cells/mm6, and the lymphocyte count was 40 +/- 12%. Two patients were admitted to the hospital for severe pneumonia. Among the reported cases, the proportion of patients between the ages of 10 and 45 years increased from 6.5% during the period from 1971 to 1980, to 26% during the period from 1980 to 1990, and to 38% during a 1989 outbreak. CONCLUSIONS: Pertussis in previously immunized individuals is usually characterized by an atypical and relatively mild clinical course. Patients suffer mainly from a prolonged and persistent cough. Early diagnosis may lead to prompt administration of therapy. Prophylaxis of exposed persons might be effective in decreasing both severity and transmission of the disease.