[Pertussis: a case study by PCR and culture]. / Indentificación de un caso de tos ferina y estudio de sus contactos. Utilidad y estudio de la PCR y del cultivo.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To describe an epidemiological study of one case of pertusis. CLINICAL CASE a five-year old boy was diagnosed with pneumonia and he had incomplete DPT vaccination scheme; pertusis was diagnosed by using the PCR technique and culture. An epidemiological study with family contacts was carried out, in which 20 samples for both tests were obtained. These were taken twice. RESULTS: The average age of the family members was 26.5 years, 50 % were women, 62 % did not have social security and 30 % had three doses of DPT. 35 % were positive to PCR and, 20 % out of these had positive cultures. CONCLUSIONS: In children smaller than five years suffering from pneumonia, is relevant to ascertain about DPT vaccination status and to consider the possibility of carrying out an epidemiological study with the family.-