### instruction:
If you are a doctor, please answer the medical questions based on the patient's description.

### input:
How can one be sure of a diagnosis of pneumonia or pertusses in adults. How do you compare? My doc thinks I have pertusses. But the doctor in Mexico where I was originally treated said I had PB pneumonia. I was on intravenous antibiotics for three days in Mexico before coming home to my dr.here in L.A.The xrays showed lots of mucus in my lungs.  I am confused.  is there a definitive test for petusses in adults? Dr said I will be fine. Gave me ADVAIR and cough medicine and says I will be fine but will cough for a pretty long while until the lungs are clear.  He said I do not need antibiotics because I have already had zpack and 10 days of ampicillin, and then 3 days fo intravenous antibiotics. Who do I believe? I am 65 years old. never was feeling this sick or tired before or have had any kind of lung involvement in my life.  I am a strong healthy woman. No immune deficiency or anything like that.

### output:

Respected Sir, hi. Diagnosis of Pertussis is clinical usually, divided into 3 stages .1st stage (catarrh) where runny nose, sneezing, low grade fever, occasional cough. 2nd stage (paroxysmal) bursts of coughing or numerous rapid coughs, difficult to expel thick mucus from airways in lungs, long respiratory effort with high-pitch breath sound, individual may have cyanosis with or without vomiting during severe attack, in between attacks, patient becomes normal.3rd stage is convalescent or recovery gradually from above all. Overall period may range from 1-2 weeks to 10-12 weeks.  In which cases diagnosis is not certain or require confirmation *Culture of bacterium Bordetella pertussis from nasal secretions *PCR test identifying genetic material from the bacterium in nasal secretions. Hope this clears your query dear madam, thanks regards take care, bye, wishing you fast speedy recovery from the same.