Abstract
Twenty-four ECG and respiration (chest and abdominal movements) records were obtained on 9 occasions in 6 infants with suspected whooping cough. The group comprised 3 males and 3 females born at term and aged between 2 and 6 months. Two presented with choking during feeds without cough, 1 with repetitive paroxysmal cough, 4 with symptoms of upper respiratory tract infection and minimal cough. All were known contacts and had not been immunised against pertusis.
Several patterns of abnormality were noted, (i) brief ( < 10 seconds) or prolonged ( > 15 seconds) central apnoea associated with bradycardia and proceeding to ‘obstructive’ apnoea and progressive bradycardia prior to clinical recovery. Cyanosis and hypoxaemia (PtcO2↓) were invariable and early in appearance. Audible cough was usually absent; (ii) brief or prolonged central apnoea with moderate bradycardia which did not proceed to obstructive apnoea or cough; (iii) obstructive apnoea, bradycardia, and hypoxaemia without preceding central apnoea, with or without cough prior to recovery; (iv) cough unrelated to central or obstructive apnoea without marked bradycardia or hypoxaemia. The most severe patterns were observed in the youngest infants who presented with recurrent cyanotic episodes rather than cough. Paired observations suggest that the risk of hypoxaemia is great, even in the catarrhal phase of the disease.
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MacFadyen, U., Borthwick, G., Halpin, V. et al. STUDIES OF BREATHING PATTERNS IN EARLY WHOOPING COUGH IN INFANCY. Pediatr Res 19, 1095 (1985). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198510000-00156
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198510000-00156