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Overview of Whooping Cough

Whooping cough, also called pertussis, is an acute respiratory infection that develops suddenly, is highly contagious, and usually occurs in children. Pertussis causes frequent episodes of uncontrollable coughing, often followed by a sharp intake of breath characterized by a "whooping" sound. Whooping cough is a serious illness, especially when it occurs in babies and very young children.

Although pertussis usually affects children, the illness can occur at any ...Read the full article