Abstract
From December 1990 to November 1993 nasopharyngeal specimens were obtained for culture from 50 children (mean 4.9±3.3 months of age) who had died suddenly.Bordetella pertussis was not isolated. Subsequently, nasopharyngeal specimens for polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis were obtained from another 51 victims of sudden death (mean 5.4±4.4 months of age); nine (18%) wereB. pertussis positive.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
Abbreviations
- PCR :
-
polymerase chain reaction
- SIDS:
-
sudden infant death syndrome
References
Cherry JD (1984) The epidemiology of pertussis and pertussis immunization in the United Kingdom and the United States: a comparative study. Curr Prob Pediatr 14:1–78
Heininger U, Stehr K, Cherry JD (1992) Serious pertussis overlooked in infants. Eur J Pediatr 151:342–343
Heininger U, Cherry JD, Eckhardt T, Lorenz C, Christenson P, Stehr K (1993) Clinical and laboratory diagnosis of pertussis in the regions of a large vaccine efficacy trial in Germany. Pediatr Infect Dis J 12:504–509
Houard S, Hackel C, Herzog A, Bollen A (1989) Specific identification ofBordetella pertussis by the polymerase chain reaction. Res Microbiol 140: 477–484
Lindgren C, Milerad J, Lagercrantz H (1994) Impact on sudden infant death by prevalence ofB. pertussis in the Swedish and Norwegian communities (abstract). Pediatr Res 35:118A
Nicoll A, Gardner A (1988) Whooping cough and unrecognised postperinatal mortality. Arch Dis Child 63:41–47
Schläpfer G, Senn HP, Berger R, Just M (1993) Use of the polymerase chain reaction to detectBordetella pertussis in patients with mild or atypical symptoms of infection. Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis 12:459–463
Schläpfer G, Cherry JD, Heininger U, Überall M, Schmitt-Grohé S, Laussucq S, Just M, Stehr K (1995) Polymerase chain reaction identificationBordetella pertussis infections in vaccinees and family members in a pertussis vaccine efficacy trial in Germany. Pediatr Infect Dis J 14:209–214
Southall DP, Thomas MG, Lambert HP (1988) Severe hypoxaemia in pertussis. Arch Dis Child 63:598–605
Taranger J, Trollfors B, Lind L, Zackrisson G, Beling-Holmquist K (1994) Environmental contamination leading to false-positive polymerase chain reaction for pertussis (letter) Pediatr Infect Dis J 13:936–937
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Heininger, U., Stehr, K., Schmidt-Schläpfer, G. et al. Bordetella pertussis infections and sudden unexpected deaths in children. Eur J Pediatr 155, 551–553 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01957903
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01957903