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Pertussis (Whooping Cough)
Pertussis, also known as whooping cough, is a highly contagious respiratory disease. It is caused by the bacterium Bordetella pertussis.
Pertussis is known for uncontrollable, violent coughing which often makes it hard to breathe. After fits of many coughs, someone with pertussis often needs to take deep breathes which result in a "whooping" sound. Pertussis most commonly affects infants and young children and can be fatal, especially in babies less than one year of age.
More resources...- Frequently Asked Questions
- Visit the Parents of Kids with Infectious Diseases website to hear how a pertussis cough may sound in a child.
- CDC Fact Sheet MCHD Fact Sheet
- Pertussis (La Tos Ferina) Informatino en Español
- Learn more at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website.
