Whooping Cough Tests

A whooping cough test usually uses fluid from your nose to help diagnose whooping cough, also known as pertussis. Whooping cough is a serious bacterial infection in your respiratory system that may cause severe fits of rapid coughing. In serious cases, the coughing may last until all the air is gone from your lungs.

This results in the 'whooping' sound that the infection is named after. Whooping cough is easily spread from person to person, usually by coughing or sneezing. You can get it at any age, but the illness is most serious in babies and children who are too young to get their childhood vaccines against whooping cough.

Babies who are less than a year old who get whooping cough often need hospital care. The best way to protect against whooping cough is with the pertussis vaccination. Vaccinated people may still get the infection, but their illness is usually milder and shorter.

Ask your provider when you and your child need to be vaccinated. Your provider can also answer any questions you have about possible vaccine side effects. If you're pregnant, you should be vaccinated between the 27th and 36th weeks of your pregnancy.

If you're vaccinated during each pregnancy, you will pass some protection against whooping cough to your baby for the first months of life before the baby can be vaccinated.

Why this test is done

Your health care provider may order a whooping cough test if you or your child has been exposed to someone with whooping cough or has symptoms of the infection. Symptoms usually happen in three stages. In the first stage, symptoms are like those of a common cold.

They can last for one or two weeks and usually include:

• Runny nose.
• Mild fever.
• Mild cough (babies may not cough).
• Pauses in breathing, called apnea, especially in babies.

In the second stage, which can last 10 weeks or more, the symptoms are more serious and may include:

• Severe coughing fits followed by a high-pitch "whoop" sound.
• Coughing so hard it causes vomiting.
• Feeling very tired after coughing fits.

The third stage marks the beginning of the recovery. Your cough may be milder, and you may cough less often.

A provider may order a test during any one of these stages. They may order it even if you don't have the "whooping" sound when you cough, especially if you've been exposed to someone with this infection.

To avoid getting or spreading whooping cough:

• Avoid close contact with those who have whooping cough.
• Stay at home if you or your child has whooping cough.
• Cover your mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing.
• Thoroughly wash your hands, especially before and after handling food or going to the bathroom.

The infection is usually milder in teens and adults, especially those who have had the vaccine.

How to prepare

You don't need any special preparations for a whooping cough test. However, if you have taken antibiotics in the days before your test, let your provider know. This may affect your test results.

Sample type

Blood Swab

Other names for this test

pertussis test, bordetella pertussis culture, PCR, antibodies (IgA, IgG, IgM)