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The White Blood Cell Count and the Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate in Pertussis
Author(s) -
LAGERGREN JAN
Publication year - 1963
Publication title -
acta pædiatrica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.772
H-Index - 115
eISSN - 1651-2227
pISSN - 0803-5253
DOI - 10.1111/j.1651-2227.1963.tb03798.x
Subject(s) - lymphocytosis , medicine , white blood cell , erythrocyte sedimentation rate , leukocytosis , bordetella pertussis , whooping cough , immunology , pediatrics , gastroenterology , physiology , vaccination , biology , bacteria , genetics
SUMMARY The white blood cell count and the erythrocyte sedimentation rate were studied in 180 hospital patients with a clear‐cut diagnosis of pertussis. In children below 6 months, the white blood cell picture favoured a diagnosis of pertussis in only one out of every four or five cases during the first 3 weeks of the disease, but not later. In children over 6 months, absolute leucocytosis and lymphocytosis were noted in the majority during the first 2 weeks of the disease (leucocytosis in 63 % and lymphocytosis in 71 %). During the third and fourth weeks changes in the white cells supported the diagnosis of pertussis in 80% and 50%, respectively. Marked leucocytosis (more than 50,000 leucocytes per mm 3 . of blood) was noted in 8 cases. I n uncomplicated pertussis the erythrocyte sedimentation rate is usually normal or subnormal and does not appear to vary with the patient's age or the week of the disease.