A child presents with complaints of cough. Characteristic inspiratory whoop present. He is not immunised. Sample for investigation is:
a. Nasopharyngeal swab(Ref: Nelson's 20/e p 1377-1381, Ghai 8/e p 242-243)For diagnosis of Whooping cough isolation of B. pertussis in culture remains the gold standardThe specimen is obtained with deep nasopharyngeal aspiration or a swabCough plates and postnasal swabs are unsatisfactory because of overgrowth by commensal bacteriaDNA detection by PCR is replacing culture because of increased sensitivity & quicker results.
Nasopharyngeal swab
Tracheal aspiration
Cough plate culture
Sputum culture
General Considerations - Infectious Diseases