Fatal pertussis in a preterm with hyperleukocytosis and necrotizing enterocolitis: Considerations on pathogenesis and prevention

摘要

A 9-weeks-old infant girl was admitted to hospital with fever up to 40° C and clinical signs of lower respiratory tract infection. The infant had been born after 32 weeks of gestation with a birth weight of 1250 g by caesarian section because of fetal bradycardia. After an uneventful neonatal period she could be discharged at the age of 36 postmenstrual weeks. Respiratory symptoms started 2 weeks before readmission. The other household members declared that they had been free of respiratory infections meanwhile. On admittance, a blood count revealed a hyperleukocytosis of 126400 leukocytes/ul (precursor cells 20%, band neutrophils 14%, segmented neutrophils 35%, eosinophils 4%, ba-sophils 1%, lymphocytes 22%, monocytes 4%).