During the consultation and especially during the physical examination consider wearing a surgical mask to protect yourself from exhaled infective droplets. Be especially careful when examining the patient's mouth as you are directly in the firing line!
Pertussis serology provides suggestive evidence of infection when there is a compatible clinical presentation and no history of recent pertussis vaccination. Positive result is indicated by any of the following:
Serology is not as useful for detecting early infection as PCR. By using PCR to detect earlier cases, you have more opportunity to treat infectious patients and prevent them transmitting infection to others.