The association of viruses with clinical pertussis

Abstract

This study describes the results of attempts to grow viruses from per-nasal swabs taken from 136 children with clinical pertussis. Altogether 37 strains of a variety of different viruses were isolated. Adenovirus was the most frequent, making up 30 % of the total. Besides these, herpes simplex, measles, influenza A2, influenza B, mumps, poliovirus and respiratory syncytial virus were detected. Bordetella pertussis was isolated from 22 % of the cases. It appears that a pertussis-like syndrome can be caused by many agents besides Bord. pertussis and an accurate diagnosis requires laboratory confirmation. © 1971, Cambridge University Press. All rights reserved.