Just the Facts: Whooping Cough

Whooping cough, a highly contagious disease marked by severe coughing, is on the rise in the United States, says the National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners.

Since the 1980s, the number of people who have contracted whooping cough has risen steadily, reports the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Between 5,000 and 7,000 people in the United States still contract the disease each year, and an average of five to 10 children die from it annually. The deaths tend to occur in children who are unvaccinated, and infants under one year are at the greatest risk of contracting the illness.


What is Whooping Cough?
Whooping cough (or Pertussis) is named after the “whoop” sound children make when they try to breathe in during or after a severe coughing spell. Caused by the bacteria Bordetella pertussis, whooping cough is an infection of the respiratory system. The bacteria get into the lining of the breathing passages, causing inflammation and narrowing of airways. Whooping cough is highly contagious and spread through close contact.


Whooping cough usually starts with cold- or flu-like symptoms—runny nose, sneezing and mild cough—which can last up to two weeks and are followed by increasingly severe coughing spells. Because its symptoms mimic those of a cold, whooping cough is difficult to diagnose. Keep an eye out for these telltale symptoms:




  • Mild fever


  • Vomiting


  • Lips and nails may turn blue from lack of oxygen


  • Coughs produce thick mucus


  •  Exhaustion, especially after coughing fits

Who Gets It?

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