Children's Health
Whooping Cough (Pertussis) - Exams and Tests
A doctor considers the following when making a preliminary diagnosis of whooping cough (pertussis):
- Symptoms. A doctor may suspect whooping cough when a person has recently had cold symptoms and a dry, hacking cough that progresses to bursts of uncontrollable, often violent coughing that may make it temporarily impossible to breathe. The characteristic whooping noise sometimes occurs when the person tries to inhale quickly through airways narrowed by inflammation. Babies may have flushed cheeks, a pale or bluish complexion from lack of oxygen, and bulging or watery eyes. A baby may also stick out his or her tongue, push the chest forward, or flail arms and legs in distress. Fever, sore throat, and wheezing are usually absent or very mild with whooping cough. When present, these symptoms can help a doctor distinguish between whooping cough and other conditions with similar symptoms, such as a cold or bronchitis.
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Immunization status. An important consideration when making a preliminary diagnosis of
whooping cough (pertussis) is whether a person's immunizations against
pertussis are up to date.
- DTaP. Children start getting their pertussis immunizations at age 2 months. A total of 5 injections (shots) are given at different times until ages 4 to 6 years. The pertussis vaccine is given along with the vaccines for diphtheria and tetanus in a single shot. For children ages 6 and younger, the vaccine is called DTaP. DTaP is sometimes given in one shot with other vaccines in it. This lowers the number of needle pricks at each office visit.
- Tdap. A combination booster vaccine (for pertussis, diphtheria, and tetanus), known as Tdap, is recommended for all preteens at age 11 or 12. Teens and adults ages 13 to 64 who never got the Tdap shot should get one dose in place of a Td (tetanus and diphtheria) shot. All teens and adults (including adults older than 64) who have or expect to have close contact with a baby younger than 1 year old should also get this shot. People who get booster shots for whooping cough get continued protection, which helps prevent the spread of the disease. This is especially important for protecting babies and others who are at high risk for becoming infected and developing complications from the disease.
- Community outbreaks. Whooping cough may be suspected when other cases of whooping cough have recently been reported within the local community.
To diagnose whooping cough, doctors may test mucus from the nasopharynx region, which is where nasal passages meet the back of the throat. To collect a mucus sample, doctors may pass a swab or suction tube deep into the back of the nose. The sample can be tested by culture. It is the most accurate method, but it takes 10 to 14 days to get the results. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is often used along with culture to get test results within several days. PCR detects the genetic material (DNA) of whooping cough bacteria.
Important It is possible that the main title of the report Kawasaki Disease is not the name you expected. Please check the synonyms listing to find the alternate name(s) and disorder subdivision(s) covered by this report.
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WebMD Medical Reference from Healthwise
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