[Pertussis. Study of an epidemic].

Forty-six children seen during 1989 with the clinical diagnosis of Pertussis are reviewed in this study. In 64.5% of the cases the Bordet-Gengou medium nasopharyngeal culture was positive for B. pertussis. Two age groups showed more susceptibility to B. pertussis, children under one year of age (70%) and of more than five years of age (20%). The disease was of more severity among infants younger than two months of age (apnea, choking spells, etc.). Most infants needed to be admitted to the hospital. All patients received therapy with erythromycin, salbutamol (80%) and general supportive medical care. No deaths or other medical sequelae were observed.