Branhamella Catarrhalis and other Bacteria in the Nasopharynx of Children with Longstanding Cough

Nasopharyngeal cultures from 180 children aged 1 to 9 were examined. All children were suffering from cough for at least 10 days. The findings were compared to those from 67 non-coughing children. Bordetella pertussis was isolated from 12.2% of the children in the study group but from none of the control children. Branhamella catarrhalis was isolated from 66.1% of the children in the study group and from 28.3% in the control group (p less than 0.01). Br. catarrhalis was more common in pure cultures from sick children than from control children. Pneumococci were isolated from 20% of the sick children and 28% of the control children. Haemophilus influenzae was isolated from 15% in each group. Some possible interpretations of the findings are discussed.