Whooping cough

Whooping cough (pertussis) is an acute and contagious infection of the mucous membranes of the airways by the bacterium Bordetella pertusis. The infection often affects children. After an incubation period of 1-2 weeks, symptoms such as sore throat, fever, heavy mucus secretion from the nose (catarrh), coughing, and lack of appetite appear. Persistent spasmodic coughing can develop, during which a loud intake of air is heard (the whoop). The symptoms can last for 1-2 weeks, and the patient is contagious during the entire period. The disease itself is rarely dangerous, but such complications as pneumonia and tuberculosis can develop. It is always wise to seek the counsel of a qualified health care practitioner.