CASE REPORT article
Front. Pediatr.
Sec. Pediatric Infectious Diseases
This article is part of the Research TopicDeciphering Host-Pathogen Interactions in Tuberculosis: Implications for Diagnostics and TherapeuticsView all 13 articles
Case Report: Co-infection of Tuberculosis and Pertussis in a 47-Day-Old Infant and Therapeutic Strategies
Provisionally accepted
- Kunming Children's Hospital, Kunming, China
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Background: Tuberculosis (TB) and pertussis are both highly contagious diseases caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M. tuberculosis) and Bordetella pertussis (B. pertussis), respectively, with significant morbidity and mortality among children. However, neonatal co-infection with these two pathogens is extremely rare, and no such cases have been reported in the literature to date. Case Presentation: We reported a case of a 47-day-old full-term male infant admitted with cough and fever. Chest imaging revealed bilateral pulmonary consolidation. Bronchoalveolar lavage confirmed co-infection with M. tuberculosis and B. pertussis. Initial empirical antibiotic therapy was ineffective. Based on pathogen identification, treatment was adjusted to a combination of levofloxacin, isoniazid, rifampicin, and pyrazinamide. During treatment, the infant developed drug-induced liver injury, prompting several modifications to the anti-TB regimen, including the introduction of linezolid and adjunctive corticosteroids. With individualized therapeutic adjustments and close liver function monitoring, the infant's condition improved significantly, and he was eventually discharged in stable condition. Conclusion: This case underscores the importance of considering atypical pathogens in neonates presenting with severe unexplained pneumonia, particularly in regions endemic for TB and pertussis. Tailored antimicrobial strategies and dynamic assessment of drug toxicity, especially hepatotoxicity, are essential for successful management.
Keywords: Infant, Tuberculosis, Pertussis, Co-infection, Drug-Induced Liver Injury
Received: 25 Jul 2025; Accepted: 27 Oct 2025.
Copyright: © 2025 Tang, Li, Yang, Wang and Luo. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
* Correspondence: Yonghan Luo, luoyonghan050@163.com
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