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 ≥38°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