Chlamydial rhinitis neonatorum

Chlamydia trachomatis: an underestimated cause for rhinitis in neonates

The incidence of Chlamydia trachomatis genital tract infection among randomly selected attendants of the ante-natal clinic of the Suez Canal University Hospital, Ismailia, Egypt, during 1996 was detected. It was found to be 9% by examining endocervical swabs using the direct immunofluorescent test and 13% after serological detection by the indirect immunofluorescent test. The incidence of neonatal Chlamydia infection in the same population assessed by nasal and conjunctival swabs tested for Chlamydia using the direct immunofluorescent test was found to be 9%. In spite of the low incidence of neonatal Chlamydia infection detected in this study, neonates 'at risk' i.e. born to infected mothers, showed a high rate of Chlamydia transmission (57%) with 21.4% of the infected neonates presenting with this specific rhinitis. This study documents Chlamydia trachomatis as an underestimated cause of rhinitis in neonates characterized by being resistant to empirical remedies.

Neonatal upper airway obstruction caused by chlamydial rhinitis

This paper reports the case of a six-week-old infant who presented with severe rhinitis and upper airway obstruction due to infection with Chlamydia trachomatis.

The management of neonatal rhinitis

Life-threatening upper airway obstruction secondary to neonatal rhinitis is a rare and poorly understood condition. Despite potential lethal effects, there has been no basic scientific research investigating the nature of this curious condition. This paper retrospectively reviews 8 patients suffering from neonatal rhinitis. Both the medical and surgical management of neonatal rhinitis and possible aetiological factors involved are discussed. Increasing clinical awareness of this condition may, therefore, serve as inspiration for future research of both an epidemiological and basic scientific nature.

Perinatal transmission of Chlamydia trachomatis. The use of serological tests in detecting infected women

A study is presented on the use of serological tests for the detection of Chlamydia trachomatis in 273 pregnant women. 166 were cultured for C. trachomatis and nine (5.4%) were positive. Three culture-positive babies, all born to culture-positive women, had conjunctivitis. Elevated IgG and IgA antibody levels were seen in six (67%) and three (33%) of the infected women, respectively. Three (2.4%) of IgG antibody-negative mothers (n = 126) were positive by culture. Compared to serology culture of the microorganism appears as the most reliable way of detecting infected women.