Pertussis in an Infant
To the Editor: I read with interest Carol Rudy’s Clinical Insights (Rudy, 1991;5:106) on pertussis in an infant. Last fall, we had an outbreak in a local high school during the height of the asthma and pneumonia season. Known contact.. (classified as family members, classmates, or friends who had 20 hours or more of exposure to the patient while symptomatic) of those patients with positive pertussis were treated in two ways: Those without symptoms were treated with erythromycin for 10 days (or Septra/Bactrim if the patient was intolerant to erythromycin) and allowed to return to school immediately. Those known contacts who had symptoms of cough underwent pertussis screening (fluorescent an-
tibodies and serum levels), were treated with erythromycin, and were allowed to return to school after 7 days of treatment. A 14-day course of treatment was used for those with positive screening versus the usual loday course. Any known contacts who refused antibiotic therapy were not allowed to return to school for 21 days. This particular outbreak affected many parents and also some middle school children before it was contained. Pertussis should be considered in those age groups when there are symptoms of lingering cough. sally Walsh, RN, crm Pediatric Associatesof Norwood Notwood, Massachusetts
CORRECTION Myers, D. P., & hdersen, A. R. (1991). Adolescent addiction: assessment and identification. Journal of Pediatric Health Care, 5, 86-93.
The footnote on page 86 should read: Amy R. Andersen is a nurse practitioner with JSA Healthcare Corp. and is in collaborative practice at the CareUnit of South Florida/Tampa.
JOURNAL
OF PEDIATRIC
HEALTH
CARE
215
To the Editor: I read with interest Carol Rudy’s Clinical Insights (Rudy, 1991;5:106) on pertussis in an infant. Last fall, we had an outbreak in a local high school during the height of the asthma and pneumonia season. Known contact.. (classified as family members, classmates, or friends who had 20 hours or more of exposure to the patient while symptomatic) of those patients with positive pertussis were treated in two ways: Those without symptoms were treated with erythromycin for 10 days (or Septra/Bactrim if the patient was intolerant to erythromycin) and allowed to return to school immediately. Those known contacts who had symptoms of cough underwent pertussis screening (fluorescent an-
tibodies and serum levels), were treated with erythromycin, and were allowed to return to school after 7 days of treatment. A 14-day course of treatment was used for those with positive screening versus the usual loday course. Any known contacts who refused antibiotic therapy were not allowed to return to school for 21 days. This particular outbreak affected many parents and also some middle school children before it was contained. Pertussis should be considered in those age groups when there are symptoms of lingering cough. sally Walsh, RN, crm Pediatric Associatesof Norwood Notwood, Massachusetts
CORRECTION Myers, D. P., & hdersen, A. R. (1991). Adolescent addiction: assessment and identification. Journal of Pediatric Health Care, 5, 86-93.
The footnote on page 86 should read: Amy R. Andersen is a nurse practitioner with JSA Healthcare Corp. and is in collaborative practice at the CareUnit of South Florida/Tampa.
JOURNAL
OF PEDIATRIC
HEALTH
CARE
215
