Pertussus - whooping cough

Clinical

1st stage (1-2 weeks) - "catarrhal"

• Nasal congestion & rhinorrhea
• Low-grade pyrexia
• Conjunctival suffusion

2nd Stage – "paroxysmal"

• Paroxysms of intense coughing then whoop
• ± vomiting with cough

3rd stage - "convalescence"

• Chronic cough - weeks

Differential Dx

• Croup (Laryngotracheobronchitis)
• 'flu
• Bronchiolitis
• Pneumonia( viral/bacterial/aspiration/TB)

Investigations

• B pertussus grown on C&S (nasopharyngeal aspirate)
• PCR available