Pertussis (whooping cough), a highly contagious disease of childhood, is increasingly recognized among reproductive-age adults and neonates. Described are three cases of maternal-infant pairs in which mother-to-newborn transmission probably occurred and was the cause of extensive morbidity and cost. Means of recognition, treatment, handling, and prevention of this potentially lethal childhood illness are discussed.
AbstractPertussis (whooping cough), a highly contagious disease of childhood, is increasingly recognized among reproductive-age adults and neonates. Described are three cases of maternal-infant pairs in which mother-to-newborn transmission probably occurred and was the cause of extensive morbidity and cost. Means of recognition, treatment, handling, and prevention of this potentially lethal childhood illness are discussed.