Table 2.

Considerations Related to Adolescent and Adult Pertussis

• How is a paroxysmal cough defined? How can it be distinguished from staccato coughing?

• Is a pertussis-related cough dry? Wet? Hacking? Productive?

• How is an inspiratory “whoop” defined?

• How is a pertussis-related apnea defined? When is it most likely to occur?

• How can a pertussis-related cough be differentiated from the cough seen with sinusitis? Asthma? Bronchitis? And that due to other infectious agents?

• Is the cough worse at night? Are we able to quantify worse?

• Does the cough significantly disturb ability to sleep? How are we defining sleep disturbance?