Pertussis clinical case definition: Time for change in developing countries?

ABSTRACT:

Background

Developing countries still struggle with late detection and mortality from pertussis. A review of clinical case definitions is necessary for early disease detection. This paper aimed to study possible clinical characteristics for earlier pertussis detection in a sporadic setting.

Methods

We conducted a retrospective review of medical and laboratory records in a general paediatric ward of a district hospital in a developing country. Inclusion criteria were all children hospitalised with nasopharyngeal swab taken for Bordetella pertussis. We compared sensitivity and specificity of World Health Organization diagnostic criteria with other clinical characteristics. Polymerase chain reaction Bordetella pertussis was the gold standard used.

Results

Out of 207 elig

SUBMITTER: Gopal Krishnan S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6619773 | biostudies-literature | 2019

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature