1. Can a throat culture be used instead of a nasopharyngeal sample from my nose?
A throat culture is not generally acceptable. During a pertussis infection, the organism is found in the tissues in the back of the nose, not in the throat or the front portion of the nose.
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2. Can pertussis testing be done in my doctor’s office?
No. There is no simple, rapid diagnostic test for pertussis. It requires specialized equipment and is typically performed in laboratories. Not every laboratory performs this testing – samples may need to be sent to a public health laboratory.
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3. Why did my doctor report my child’s pertussis infection?
Doctors are required to report pertussis to state health departments. Outbreaks are tracked and interventions, such as vaccination and appropriate antimicrobial therapy, are used to stop the outbreak.
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4. Why do I hear so little about pertussis?
The number of people affected has dropped since widespread vaccination was instituted in the United States. Infants are routinely vaccinated, reducing the population who are susceptible. Pertussis outbreaks are sporadic instead of seasonal like influenza and RSV and may be underreported and under-diagnosed, especially in adults who may not seek treatment when they have cold symptoms or a persistent cough.
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5. My doctor said I have Bordetella parapertussis. Is this the same as whooping cough?
B. parapertussis is a
bacterium that can infect humans in the same manner as
B. pertussis, but the infection usually causes a milder respiratory illness.
Culture methods and PCR tests can detect and distinguish
B. parapertussis from
B. pertussis, and both agents are commonly tested for since the clinical presentation may be similar in patients with either infection. There is no
vaccine to prevent
B. parapertussis infections.
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