pertussis
Meaning of pertussis: Pertussis is a highly contagious bacterial respiratory infection best known for causing severe, prolonged coughing fits, especially dangerous in young infants.
Definition of pertussis
Pertussis is a contagious respiratory infection caused by the bacterium Bordetella pertussis, which attaches to and irritates the lining of the airways. The disease is commonly called whooping cough, named for the high pitched sound that can occur when a person gasps for air after a severe coughing fit.
Pertussis typically begins with symptoms resembling an ordinary cold, including a runny nose and mild cough, before progressing over one to two weeks to episodes of severe, rapid coughing that can be followed by vomiting, exhaustion, or the characteristic whooping sound on inhalation.
Infants and young children tend to have the most severe disease and are at greatest risk of complications, while adolescents and adults, particularly those with some prior immunity, often have a milder and more prolonged cough without the classic whoop, which can make the diagnosis easy to miss.
Also known as
Used in a sentence
Laboratory testing confirmed pertussis in the infant presenting with severe coughing fits.
Good to know
Pertussis in adolescents and adults often lacks the classic whooping sound and can resemble an ordinary lingering cough, which is part of why the diagnosis is sometimes missed outside of infancy.
Word origin
Where “pertussis” comes from
Formed from Latin per-, meaning thoroughly or intensively, and tussis, meaning cough.