Simultaneous infection with Bordetella pertussis and respiratory syncytial virus in hospitalized children.

We compared three groups of hospitalized children with Bordetella pertussis infection, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection and dual B. pertussis/RSV infections in an effort to establish clinical and laboratory criteria by which to distinguish children with dual infections from children infected with either organism alone. The groups were compared for admission laboratory data, history of present illness, perinatal history and immunization history. Children with pertussis were more likely to have been premature (less than 37 weeks gestation) than children with RSV infections only (11 of 29 vs. 1 of 22, chi square test, 5.94, P less than 0.02). Other than B. pertussis and RSV fluorescent antibody testing and culture, there were no laboratory or clinical criteria by which to differentiate these children consistently at the time of hospital admission. For purposes of medical management and infection control, pertussis or simultaneous infection with pertussis should be considered in young children hospitalized for presumed viral respiratory illness.