title: Fracture of the first rib as a consequence of pertussis infection.
abstract: We report the first described case of a first rib fracture secondary to pertussis infection. An 11-year-old boy presented with sudden onset of severe right-sided pleuritic chest pain on a background of a 6 week history of a coughing illness and considerable weight loss. Pertussis was clinically suspected and proven on serology. A cause for the severe pain was initially difficult to confirm, causing some concern regarding possible underlying pathology, but was later demonstrated to be due to a first rib fracture. The anatomy of the first rib, and the biomechanical forces placed upon it that are exacerbated during a coughing illness are described.
authors.affiliation: Sydney University Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Royal Alexandra Hospital for Children, Parramatta, New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Prasad
authors.forename: L A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Baur
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D003371:Cough / Q000150:complications* / Q000209:etiology; D015775:Fractures, Stress / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011859:Radiography; D012253:Rib Fractures / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology*; D014917:Whooping Cough / Q000150:complications*