Paediatrics

Whooping Cough (Pertussis)

Pertussis is a highly contagious Bordetella pertussis infection causing prolonged paroxysmal cough; young infants may present with apnoea or cyanosis rather than a whoop and are at greatest risk of severe disease.

Definition

Whooping cough, or pertussis, is an acute respiratory infection caused mainly by Bordetella pertussis. It can affect every age, is highly contagious and is most dangerous in young, incompletely immunised infants.

First principles

The cough evolves after a catarrhal phase

Pertussis usually starts with coryzal symptoms and a cough, followed by paroxysms that may end in vomiting, cyanosis or an inspiratory whoop. Adults and vaccinated people may have only a prolonged cough, while the absence of a whoop does not exclude infection.

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