THE DEVELOPMENT of subdural hematomas in a child with whooping cough must be quite rare. No references are made to this entity in standard textbooks of pediatrics1,2 or pediatric neurosurgery.3 A recent discussion of neurological complications of pertussis4 does not include subdural hematomas, nor does Lapin's5 classic monograph on whooping cough. Because it is unusual, this case of pertussis and bilateral subdural hematomas is reported.
Report of a Case
An 8-month-old white boy, the product of an uncomplicated pregnancy and delivery, who had received no childhood immunizations, was brought to the emergency room of Parkland Memorial Hospital with symptoms of an upperrespiratory tract illness, including a cough for two weeks. The cough, which was associated with frequent apneic spells, had become progressively worse during the week before admission. One week prior to admission, the mother dropped the child during one of the apneic episodes. During the