Hot Topics: Whooping Cough

March 11, 2011 by TechTeam · 3 Comments
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Whooping cough (Pertussis) is a highly contagious infection of the respiratory (breathing) tract, caused by the bacterium Bordetella pertussis.  Young infants less than 6 months of age are at the greatest risk.  Complications of whooping cough include pneumonia (lung infection) which is the most common cause of death sometimes compounded by seizures and lack of oxygen to the brain.

Whooping cough is spread through droplets released into the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes. The disease can also be spread through direct contact with fluid from the nose or throat of an infected person. Read more