Pertussis Accompanying Recent Mycoplasma Infection in a 10-Year-Old Girl

Abstract

Recently, the incidence of pertussis has been increasing; however, reports on mixed infection of pertussis with other respiratory pathogens are rare in highly immunized populations. We report the case of a 10-year-old girl who presented with cough, post-tussive emesis, and fever. She was subsequently diagnosed with bronchopneumonia. Although she had received five doses of diphtheria-tetanus-acellular pertussis vaccine, polymerase chain reaction of her nasopharyngeal aspirate confirmed Bordetella pertussis infection. In addition, serologic testing for Mycoplasma pneumoniae was also positive. The patient was treated with roxithromycin without any complications. This is the first report of mixed B. pertussis and M. pneumoniae infection in Korea. To avoid under-diagnosis, pertussis should be considered in patients with chronic cough even when other respiratory pathogens have been documented.

Identfication of viral and bacterial etiologic agents of the pertussis-like syndrome in children under 5 years old hospitalized

“…Another study in children, although in patients with community-acquired Pneumonia, also have reported coinfections in M. pneumoniae as the most common bacteria detected in association with a virus [39]. Thus, to avoid under-diagnosis, pertussis should be considered in patients with cough, especially if chronic, even when M. pneumoniae have been documented [40].…”