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DONATO TORRE, MD; F. MAGGIOLO, MD; C. SAMPIETRO, MD; G. INGROSSO, MD; M. Issi, MD; D. Rossi, MD
Division of Infectious Diseases and Blood and Immunohematology Center Varese General Hospital 21100 Varese, Italy

Am J Dis Child. 1986;140(11):1094.

	Since this article does not have an abstract, we have provided the first 150 words of the full text PDF and any section headings.

Sir.—Immunity in pertussis has not yet been clarified; local immunity probably plays an important role, as Bordetella pertussis causes a noninvasive infection that is restricted to the ciliated respiratory epithelial cells. On the other hand, a toxin produced by B pertussis, lymphocytosispromoting factor, is responsible for systemic manifestations. Hewlett et al¹ showed that B pertussis causes an impairment of cell-mediated immunity in children that is reversible with recovery. The use of corticosteroids in pertussis remains controversial; Zoumboulakis et al² and Chandra et al³ demonstrated a beneficial effect of corticosteroids in reducing the severity and the number of attacks of whooping; however, corticosteroids can impair cellular immunity and could lead to severe complications.

Patients and Methods.—To analyze the role of B pertussis and corticosteroid treatment, we examined T-lymphocyte subpopulations of 11 patients with pertussis. Patients were admitted to our division with the diagnosis of pertussis based . . . [Full Text PDF of this Article]

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