Pertussis

Alternative names:

whooping cough

Symptoms:

• runny nose
• cough, severe, may be dry or may produce sputum
• slight fever (102 F or lower)
• severe coughing attacks
• ends in a high-pitched crowing sound when inhaling, or ends in a high-pitched "whoop" (whooping cough)
• coughing spell (paroxysm) may end in momentary loss of consciousness
• cough with difficulty breathing
• vomiting during severe bout of coughing
• diarrhea
• choking spells in infants
• choking that occurs when emotional

Signs and tests:

Tests may include:

• a culture of secretions from the nose and mouth
• a throat swab culture
• a CBC with an elevated white blood cell count characterized by large numbers of lymphocytes (lymphocytosis)
• serologic tests for B. pertussis
• ELISA