Introduction:

the aim of the study was to analyse the clinical characteristics, diagnostic tests performed and treatment used in patients with pertussis evaluated in the paediatric emergency setting.

Material and methods:

we conducted a retrospective descriptive study of patients with pertussis that sought care in the paediatric emergency department of a tertiary care hospital between March 2014 and October 2017.

Results:

the sample included 89 patients with a mean age of 1.67 ± 2.9 years. Of the total, 98.9% presented with cough, 33% with inspiratory whoop and 34.8% with apnoea. Sixty-four percent of cases occurred in the context of an epidemic of cough or pertussis. The mean number of emergency visits made during a single episode of disease was 1.4. The most frequent diagnoses in the initial emergency visit were cough (36%), suspected pertussis (22.5%), upper respiratory tract infection (19.1%) and bronchiolitis (9%). Fifty-six patients were admitted to hospital (62.9%) with a mean age of 0.38 ± 1.2 years. Cultures for detection of Bordetella were performed in 88 cases (positive for B. pertussis in 38 and B. parapertussis in 3), and PCR tests in 73 (positive for B. pertussis in 70 and B. parapertussis in 3).

Conclusions:

the diagnosis of pertussis is usually challenging, as its initial symptoms are nonspecific. Early diagnosis is essential for early initiation of treatment and adequate contact prophylaxis.

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