Whooping Cough (PERTUSSIS)

Whooping-cough is a highly infectious disease of the respiratory tract caused by Bordetellapertussis. It is spread by droplet infection. Clinical diagnosis in the early and most infectious stage is virtually impossible so that epidemics are common. However, the incidence and severity of the disease have been decreasing over the last few years since the institution of more effective prophylactic measures. The disease is notifiable. The incubation period is 7 to 14 days to the catarrhal stage. A quarantine period is not necessary. Whooping-cough occurs at all stages but approximately 90% of cases are children under 5 years of age.