- Laboratory confirmation of infection by:
- Isolation of Bordetella pertussis from an appropriate clinical specimen [2];
OR - Detection of B. pertussis DNA [3] from an appropriate clinical specimen and one or more of the following:
- Cough lasting 2 weeks or longer;
OR - Paroxysmal cough of any duration;
OR - Cough with inspiratory "whoop";
OR - Cough ending in vomiting or gagging, or associated with apnea
- Epidemiological link to a laboratory-confirmed case and one or more of the following for which there is no other known cause:
- Paroxysmal cough of any duration;
OR - Cough with inspiratory "whoop";
OR - Cough ending in vomiting or gagging, or associated with apnea
- Cough lasting 2 weeks or longer in the absence of appropriate laboratory tests and not epidemiologically linked to a laboratory-confirmed case;
AND - One or more of the following with no other known cause:
- Paroxysmal cough of any duration;
OR - Cough with inspiratory "whoop";
OR - Cough ending in vomiting or gagging, or associated with apnea
- One or more of the following with no other known cause:
- Paroxysmal cough of any duration;
OR - Cough with inspiratory "whoop";
OR - Cough ending in vomiting or gagging, or associated with apnea
Notes
- Pertussis is also called "whooping cough"
- Nasopharyngeal swab or nasopharyngeal wash
- Pertussis DNA is detectable using a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay
Reporting rules
Confirmed and probable cases of pertussis are reportable to the MHO under the BC Public Health Act (2008). Report confirmed and probable cases through the health information system.
