Clinical characteristics of illness caused by Bordetella parapertussis compared with illness caused by Bordetella pertussis.

Abstract

In conjunction with a pertussis vaccine efficacy trial in Germany, nasopharyngeal specimens were collected from May, 1992, to March, 1993, from patients with cough illnesses. Clinical data were obtained by initial and follow-up questionnaires. Bordetella parapertussis was isolated from 38 patients (mean age, 3.5 years; 68% girls). Clinical characteristics in these cases were compared with those of 76 patients (matched by age and sex) with illness caused by Bordetella pertussis during the same period. Findings were: (B. pertussis/B. parapertussis): cough > 4 weeks 57%/37% (P = 0.06); whoop 80%/59% (P = 0.07); whoop > 2 weeks 26%/18% (P = 0.05); paroxysms 90%/83% (P = 0.5); body temperature > or = 38 degrees C 9%/0% (P = 0.17); vomiting 47%/42% (P = 0.69); and mean leukocyte and lymphocyte counts 12,500/mm3 and 7600/mm3 (P < 0.0001) and 7800/mm3 and 3500/mm3 (P < 0.0001), respectively. Illness caused by B. parapertussis was typical of pertussis but less severe than that caused by B. pertussis. In contrast with B. pertussis infection, lymphocytosis is not a characteristic of B. parapertussis infection. This is most likely a result of the lack of production of lymphocytosis-promoting factor toxin by B. parapertussis.

• Authors: U Heininger, K Stehr, S Schmitt-Grohé, C Lorenz, R Rost, P D Christenson, M Uberall, J D Cherry
• Journal: The Pediatric infectious disease journal (Pediatr Infect Dis J) Vol. 13 Issue 4 Pg. 306-9 (Apr 1994) ISSN: 0891-3668 [Print] United States
• PMID: 8036048 (Publication Type: Comparative Study, Journal Article)

Topics

• Bordetella (classification, pathogenicity)
• Bordetella Infections (microbiology, physiopathology)
• Bordetella pertussis (pathogenicity)
• Child
• Child, Preschool
• Female
• Humans
• Infant
• Male