A data driven clinical algorithm for differential diagnosis of pertussis and other respiratory infections in infants.
Alberto Eugenio TozziFrancesco GesualdoCaterina RizzoEmanuela CarloniLuisa RussoIlaria CampagnaAlberto VillaniAntonino RealeCarlo ConcatoGiulia LinardosElisabetta PandolfiPublished in: PloS one (2020)
An algorithm based on clinical symptoms, not including the duration of cough, is accurate and has high predictive values for lab confirmed pertussis. Such a tool may be useful in low resource settings where lab confirmation is unavailable, to guide differential diagnosis and clinical decisions. Algorithms may also be useful to improve surveillance for pertussis and anticipating classification of cases.