To determine the prevalence of fever in pertussis cases reported in the US and describe characteristics associated with fever among these cases.
Key Findings:
10% of pertussis cases had documented fever.
Fever was more common in individuals aged 2 months to <6 years (16%) compared to those <2 months (6%).
Hispanic individuals were 1.3 times more likely to have fever than non-Hispanic individuals.
Probable cases were 1.6 times more likely to have fever than confirmed cases.
Fever prevalence varied by surveillance site, with 6% in Connecticut and 13% in New Mexico.
Interpretation:
Fever is infrequently reported in pertussis cases, but its presence should not exclude pertussis as a diagnosis, particularly in specific demographics.
Limitations:
Potential underreporting of fever due to subjective reporting, which may lead to an underestimation of fever prevalence.
Variability in fever reporting across different surveillance sites.
Conclusion:
Fever is a rare clinical presentation in pertussis cases, but its occurrence is significant enough to warrant consideration in diagnosis.
by Michelle M Hughes, Amy Rubis, Anna M Acosta, Vanessa Aden, Patricia Firmender, Kate Horn, Emma Stanislawski, Rachel Wester, Erin Youngkin, Victor Cruz, Tami H Skoff
