AEMCA Practice Exam

Which are common symptoms of pertussis?

1. Fever and rash

2. Dizziness and stomach pain

3. Dry cough followed by thick mucus

4. Itchy eyes and headaches

The correct answer is: Dry cough followed by thick mucus

The common symptoms of pertussis, or whooping cough, prominently feature a dry cough that can be followed by the production of thick mucus. Pertussis is characterized by severe, uncontrollable coughing fits that often lead to a "whooping" sound when the person breathes in after coughing. This cough can be particularly distressing, and the presence of thick mucus contributes to the difficulty in breathing. In the context of the other options, fever and rash are more indicative of different viral infections rather than pertussis. Dizziness and stomach pain do not typically correlate with the presentation of pertussis; instead, they may arise from various other health issues. Lastly, itchy eyes and headaches are symptomatic of allergic reactions or other illnesses but are not associated with the hallmark symptoms of whooping cough. Thus, the identification of dry cough followed by thick mucus as the correct answer accurately reflects the primary clinical features of pertussis.