Whooping Cough

Bordetella pertussis

A 7 year old boy is brought into the pediatrician's office for a severe paroxysmal hacking cough that appeared a few days ago. The coughing produces copious amounts of mucus. The child has not had all of his required childhood vaccinations. There is also the presence of rhinorrhea and episodic apnea.

Labs: Bordet-Gengou culture grows small, coccobacillary, encapsulated gram negative rods.

Discussion: The diagnosis of whooping cough by Bordetella pertussis is made by clinical presentation and culture. Patients are contagious for 3 weeks. Groups at risk are unimmunized children.

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