What is a whooping cough test?
Whooping cough, also known as pertussis, is a bacterial infection that causes severe fits of coughing and trouble breathing. People with whooping cough sometimes make a "whooping" sound as they try to take a breath. Whooping cough is very contagious. It is spread from person to person by coughing or sneezing.
You can get whooping cough at any age, but it mostly affects children. It's especially serious, and sometimes deadly, for babies less than a year old. A whooping cough test can help diagnose the disease. If your child gets a whooping cough diagnosis, he or she may be able to get treatment to prevent severe complications.
The best way to protect against whooping cough is with vaccination.
Other names: pertussis test, bordetella pertussis culture, PCR, antibodies (IgA, IgG, IgM)
