Whooping-cough: Difficulties in Diagnosis and Ineffectiveness of Immunization

Abstract

An epidemic of whooping-cough was traced through a village school and from it to the families of the schoolchildren. The results of previous protective immunization proved very disappointing. Quarantine regulations were suspended because of the large number of children previously immunized, and this is believed to have contributed to the spread of infection. Bacteriological culture of pertussis was of value only in confirming the nature of the epidemic. With immunization, and treatment with atropine methonitrate (Eumydrin) and antibiotics, this proved to be an unpleasant rather than a dangerous illness. Our present clinical criteria and laboratory methods are quite inadequate for diagnostic purposes. We wish to thank Dr. W. McNaught and the staff of the Borders District Laboratory, Peel Hospital, for their interest and work on our behalf; and also Dr. A. J. Beale, of Glaxo Laboratories, and Mr. S. A. Sklaroff, Usher Institute of Public Health, Edinburgh, for their help in the preparation of this paper. © 1965, British Medical Journal Publishing Group. All rights reserved.