1
Fifth stage
Pediatric
Lec. 3
.د
رياض
1/3/2017
Pertussis Syndrome
ETIOLOGY
• The pertussis is MOSTLY disease caused by Bordetella pertussis
)
a gram-negative
pleomorphic bacillus ( . Vaccine for this available DPT
• Bordetella parapertussis, which causes a similar but milder illness that is not affected
by B. pertussis vaccination
• Adenoviruses have been associated with the pertussis syndrome.
EPIDEMIOLOGY
• The mean incubation period is7-10 days , range 4-21 days.
• pertussis is very common and important to know this illness.It is called one( month
cough disease).
• Patients are most infectious during the catarrhal stage till after 3 weeks of coughing
stage.Three stages each 2wks durations catarrhal,paroxysmal,convalescent
CLINICAL MANIFESTATIONS
pertussis is the syndrome seen in most infants 1-month to school age. The progression of
the disease is divided into:
1. The catarrhal stage is marked by nonspecific signs (upper respiratory tract infection
as running nose, sneezing and low-grade fever) that last 1wk.
2. The paroxysmal stage :coughing stage; is the most distinctive classic stage of
pertussis. Coughing occurs in paroxysms (episodes) during expiration, causing young
children above 6 months to lose their breath and even apnea followed by high pitch
inspiratory sound -whoop
The forceful inhalation against a narrowed glottis that follows this paroxysm of cough
produces the characteristic whoop .
Post-tussive emesis should raise the suspicion of pertussis .Facial congestion and
cyanosis may be seen in the attack. This stage lasts 2- weeks. Pertussis may produce
anoxic brain damage and even encephalopathy.
3. The convalescent stage is marked by gradual resolution of symptoms over 1 to 2
weeks. Coughing becomes less severe, residual cough may persist for months
2
Infants below 3 months and neonates may get the illness due to lack of maternal
immunity,may not give the classic pertussis syndrome; the first signs may be episodes of
repetitive coughing and some may develops apnea.. Adolescents and adults with pertussis
usually present with a prolonged cough without whoops many weeks to months. Physical
examination is nonspecific.
LABORATORY AND IMAGING STUDIES
1. Culture of nasopharyngeal swabs.
2. Direct fluorescent antibody staining of the swab from nasopharynx.
3. PCR is useful and rapid test for pharyngeal swab.
4. WBC count shows Leucocytosis due to absolute lymphocytosis more than 20.000/
cmm.
5. Radiological X-R ; not specific, It may show segmental lung atelectasis to develop
during pertussis, especially during the paroxysmal stage. Perihilar infiltrates are
common and are similar to what is seen in viral pneumonia. Secondary bacterial
pneumonia may develop.
DIFFERENTIAL DIAGNOSIS
1. Respiratory viruses such as RSV, parainfluenza virus, and Chlamydia pneumoniae can
produce bronchitic illnesses among infants.
2. In older children and young adults, Mycoplasma pneumoniae may produce a prolonged
bronchitic illness that is not distinguished easily from pertussis in this age group.
TREATMENT
Erythromycin,, or Azithromycin if given early in the course of illness it eradicates organisms
within first 3 to 4 days in (catarrhal stage), and it abort and stop the course of infection.
Treatment is indicated during the first 3 weeks of whooping cough stage illness to reduce
the severity and infectivity, but it does not treat the the coughing. Antibiotics reduce the
risk of infectivity to contacts when given for full 5 days course during the infectivity period
(first 3 wks of coughing illness). It also should be given to contacts members regardless of
their vaccination. When given to neonates pt. younger than 4 weeks old, clarythromycin or
erythromycin may rarely been associated with pyloric stenosis, but treatment is still
recommended because of the seriousness of pertussis in this age. Azithromycin has less
such side effect and is drug of choice for neonates for 5 days.
3
COMPLICATIONS
1. Hypoxia
2. Apnoea specially in young infants.
3. Pneumonia : caused by B. pertussis itself or resulting from secondary bacterial
infection
4. seizures, encephalopathy
5. failure to thrive.
6. Atelectasis may develop
7. The force of the paroxysm may rupture alveoli and produce pneumothorax,
8. epistaxis; and retinal and subconjunctival hemorrhages, hernia
9. Otitis media and sinusitis may occur.
10. Infants <4 mo of age account for 90% of cases of fatal pertussis
PREVENTION
Active immunity can be induced with acellular pertussis vaccine, given in combination with
the
70% .
TaP). Pertussis vaccine has an efficacy of
the toxoids of tetanus and diphtheria (D
efficacy declines if fewer vaccinations given.
Compared with older, whole cell pertussis vaccines, acellular vaccines have fewer adverse
effects and local reactions .
Patient who have pertussis produce life long immunity.
Erythromycin is effective in preventing disease in contacts exposed to pertussis. Close
contacts younger than 7 years old who have received four doses of vaccine should receive a
booster dose of DTaP.They also should be given erythromycin. Close contacts older than
age 7 should receive only prophylactic erythromycin 5 days, but not the vaccine.