Edema as a new predominant symptom of Bordetella pertussis infection in a newborn.

Pertussis is an infectious disease with characteristic clinical signs. In this report, we describe transmission of pertussis directly after birth. Edema and mild hyponatremia were notable predominant symptoms of Bordetella pertussis infection. By exclusion of all other causes, the edema was probably due to inflammation and damage to the capillary wall caused by pertussis toxins.