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Diagnosis of whooping cough
Medical expert of the article
Last reviewed: 03.07.2025
Diagnosis of whooping cough is based on the typical clinical picture of the disease.
As an express diagnostic for whooping cough, the immunofluorescence method is used, with the help of which the whooping cough pathogen can be detected directly in smears of mucus from the nasopharynx in almost all patients at the onset of the disease.
Serological diagnostics of whooping cough is based on the use of RA, RSK and RPGA - detection of antibodies to Bordetella pertussis in the blood serum. These reactions are important only for retrospective diagnostics and, in addition, they are often negative in children in the first 2 years of life. The first serum should be examined no later than the 3rd week from the onset of the disease, the second - after 1-2 weeks.
[ Differential diagnosis of whooping cough
In the catarrhal period, whooping cough in children must be differentiated from ARVI (flu, parainfluenza, adenovirus infection, respiratory syncytial infection, etc.). Whooping cough differs from ARVI by mild catarrhal symptoms on the mucous membrane of the nose and oropharynx, often normal body temperature, absence of intoxication, gradually progressing cough despite treatment, high leukocytosis and lymphocytosis.
In the spasmodic period, whooping cough must be differentiated from acute respiratory viral infections that occur with obstructive syndrome; with tuberculous bronchoadenitis, foreign body, spasmophilia with laryngospasm phenomena, rarely with bronchial asthma, mediastinal tumors, etc.
The cyclic nature of the disease, typical spasmodic cough with reprises, hematological changes, as well as epidemiological data help to establish the diagnosis of whooping cough.
It is more difficult to differentiate whooping cough and parakoklyush, in which the cough can also become spasmodic. However, parakoklyush is much milder than whooping cough. The whooping cough-like cough lasts from several days to 2 weeks. The hemogram is usually unchanged. Bacteriological and, to a lesser extent, serological studies are of decisive importance in diagnostics.