Pertusis

Because symptoms of whooping cough are a lot like those caused by a cold, the flu, or bronchitis, it can be hard to diagnose it early on. Your doctor may be able to tell that you have it by the sound of your cough, but tests can confirm it.

Nose or throat culture. A simple swab of the area where your nose and throat meet can be tested for the bacteria that causes whooping cough.

Blood test. A high white blood cell count is a sign that your body is fighting off an infection, but it doesn’t necessarily mean it’s whooping cough.

Chest X-ray. This can show if you have inflammation or fluid in your lungs, which can be a sign of pneumonia.

If you find out you have whooping cough early on, antibiotics can help cut down coughing and other symptoms. They can also help prevent the infection from spreading to others. But most people are diagnosed too late for antibiotics to work well.

Don't use over-the-counter cough medicines, cough suppressants, or expectorants (medicines that make you cough up mucus) to treat whooping cough. They don't work.

If your coughing spells are so bad that they keep you from drinking enough fluids, you can get dehydrated. If this happens, call your doctor right away.

You can do a few things to feel better and recover faster:

Get lots of rest. This can give your body more strength to fight the illness.

Eat small meals as often as you feel up to it. Eating less more often can help prevent the vomiting sometimes caused by harsh coughing spells. 

Clean air. Keeping the air around you free of dust, smoke, and other irritants can help soothe coughing.

Drink fluids. Stay hydrated by drinking lots of water or juice. If you notice signs of dehydration, like dry lips or peeing less often, call your doctor right away.