Pertussis and respiratory syncytial virus infections

Eur J Pediatr. 2008 Sep;167(9):1017-9. doi: 10.1007/s00431-007-0633-6. Epub 2007 Nov 23.

Abstract

During the winter 2005-2006, all infants <4 months of age admitted for bronchiolitis or acute respiratory tract infection in a tertiary care pediatric hospital in Paris were tested for respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and pertussis with real-time polymerase-chain reaction (RT-PCR). A positive pertussis-PCR was found in 14/90 (16%) infants infected with RSV and in 5/30 negative for RSV. Similar clinical symptoms were found in all RSV-positive infants with or without pertussis co-infection. Most infants (73%) were not vaccinated against pertussis, and the other children had received one or two injections. In conclusion, pertussis-RSV co-infection is common in young infants, and pertussis-PCR should be used, whenever available.

MeSH terms

  • Female
  • Hospitals, Pediatric
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Male
  • Paris / epidemiology
  • Pertussis Vaccine / administration & dosage
  • Prevalence
  • Prospective Studies
  • Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infections / complications*
  • Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infections / epidemiology
  • Respiratory Syncytial Viruses / isolation & purification*
  • Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Whooping Cough / complications*
  • Whooping Cough / epidemiology
  • Whooping Cough / prevention & control

Substances

  • Pertussis Vaccine