title: Is pertussis in infants a potential cause of retinal haemorrhages?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the prevalence of retinal haemorrhages in infants with pertussis infection with the purpose of clarifying the differential diagnosis of the cases of abusive head trauma.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective study of children aged 15 days to 2 years admitted to our hospital with a diagnosis of pertussis over a period of 4 years (May 2004-May 2008). All children underwent one detailed ophthalmological examination within 72 h of admission. If retinal haemorrhages were detected, further investigation was undertaken to rule out systemic disorder or maltreatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  35 children with pertussis infection were examined. None was found to have retinal haemorrhages. Therefore, applying Wilson's method, the data suggest with 95% confidence that the true effect estimate for retinal haemorrhage occurring due to symptomatic pertussis infection requiring admission to hospital is no higher than 9.9%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Pertussis infections are unlikely to cause retinal haemorrhages in children under 2 years of age.
authors.affiliation: Emergency Department, Sant Joan de Deu Hospital, passeig Sant Joan de deu 2 08950, Barcelona, Spain. acurcoy@hsjdbcn.org
authors.forename: Ana Isabel
authors.initials: AI
authors.lastname: Curcoy
authors.forename: Victoria
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Trenchs
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Morales
authors.forename: Alicia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Serra
authors.forename: Jordi
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pou
mesh_terms: D002649:Child Abuse / Q000175:diagnosis; D006259:Craniocerebral Trauma / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012166:Retinal Hemorrhage / Q000209:etiology*; D014917:Whooping Cough / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis