Whooping Cough: Known medically as pertussis, this is a highly infectious respiratory disease marked by severe coughing spells, caused by the Bordetella pertussis bacteria. Although it primarily affects young children, it can also occur in teenagers and adults, even if they have been vaccinated. The whooping cough vaccine offers protection, but immunity can diminish over time. In those who have had the illness before or have been vaccinated, the typical symptoms might not always appear, and the only sign might be a persistent cough.In the initial stage of whooping cough, treatment can help reduce the length and severity of the coughing. However, in adolescents and adults, it is often not diagnosed early enough for this to be effective. While antibiotics might not alter the progression of symptoms later on, they can help prevent the disease from spreading to others. Treatment generally focuses on supportive care. For more information, refer to resources on immunization.
