title: Pneumomediastinum as a complication of critical pertussis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Pertussis is a common and potentially serious disease affecting mainly infants and young children. In its non-classic presentation, pertussis can be clinically indistinguishable from other respiratory illnesses. Pertussis today often remains underdiagnosed in adults. Our aims was to report a complicated cases of pertussis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A case of serologically confirmed pertussis occurred in an 18-year-old man presenting with pneumomediastinum, subcutaneous emphysema in the neck and chest, and persistent attacks of coughing with apnea that required treatment in the intensive care unit.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Pneumomediastinum and subcutaneous emphysema have never been described in adult patients with pertussis. Physicians should be aware that patients presenting with persistent cough and pneumomediastinum may have pertussis and include this in their differential diagnosis.
authors.affiliation: Thoracic Surgery Unit, Cardiovascular and Thoracic Department, Policlinic University Hospital, University of Messina, Messina, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Monaco
authors.affiliation: Thoracic Surgery Unit, Cardiovascular and Thoracic Department, Policlinic University Hospital, University of Messina, Messina, Italy.
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Barone
authors.affiliation: Thoracic Surgery Unit, Cardiovascular and Thoracic Department, Policlinic University Hospital, University of Messina, Messina, Italy.
authors.forename: Valeria G
authors.initials: VG
authors.lastname: Manfredi
authors.affiliation: Thoracic Surgery Unit, Cardiovascular and Thoracic Department, Policlinic University Hospital, University of Messina, Messina, Italy.
authors.forename: Rosario
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Marando
authors.affiliation: Thoracic Surgery Unit, Cardiovascular and Thoracic Department, Policlinic University Hospital, University of Messina, Messina, Italy.
authors.forename: Flavia
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Nunnari
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosciences, Psychiatric and Anesthesiological Sciences, University of Messina, Messina, Italy.
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: David
authors.affiliation: Thoracic Surgery Unit, Cardiovascular and Thoracic Department, Policlinic University Hospital, University of Messina, Messina, Italy.
authors.forename: Maurizio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Monaco
authors.affiliation: Infectious Diseases Unit, Department of Human Pathology, Policlinic University Hospital, University of Messina, Messina, Italy. acascio@unime.it.
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cascio
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D003371:Cough / Q000382:microbiology; D003422:Critical Care; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008478:Mediastinal Emphysema / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000382:microbiology*; D012121:Respiration, Artificial; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014917:Whooping Cough / Q000150:complications* / Q000628:therapy
keywords: Bordetella pertussis; cough; pertussis; pneumomediastinum