Whooping cough

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Whooping cough ( or ), also known as pertussis or the 100-day cough, is a highly contagious, vaccine-preventable bacterial disease caused by the bacterium Bordetella pertussis. Initial symptoms are usually similar to those of the common cold with a runny nose, fever, and mild cough, but these are followed by two or three months of severe coughing fits. Following a fit of coughing, a high-pitched whoop sound or gasp may occur as the person breathes in. The violent coughing usually lasts 1–6 weeks but can last 10 or more, hence the phrase "100-day cough". The cough may be so hard that it causes fatigue, vomiting, and rib fractures. Children less than one year old may have little or no cough and instead have periods when they cannot breathe. The incubation period is usually seven to ten days. Disease may occur in those who have been vaccinated, but symptoms are typically milder. The bacterium Bordetella pertussis causes pertussis, which is spread easily through the coughs and sneezes of an...

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