Synonyms of Pertussis - Whooping Cough - No subdivisions found.
Pertussis is a highly contagious acute respiratory disease
caused by the bacteria Bordetella pertussis. This disease has 3
stages: catarrhal, paroxysmal, and convalescent. The symptoms of
the catarrhal stage are mild and may go unnoticed. The
paroxysmal stage of Pertussis is characterized by episodes of
coughing with a distinctive "whooping" sound when breathing in
(inspiration). This characteristic cough gives the disease its
common name, Whooping Cough. During the convalescent stage,
episodes of coughing are less frequent and symptoms improve. The
incidence of Pertussis has diminished greatly with widespread
use of the DPT vaccine (Diphtheria Pertussis Tetanus), but in
certain areas of the United States outbreaks have occurred
periodically in recent years. Pertussis is a highly contagious
disease that typically lasts for approximately 6 to 10 weeks.
The symptoms are more severe in infants or in individuals who
have never been immunized against