2007-01-16 17:33:16 · 3 answers · asked by diana_kyrene 1 in Health ➔ Diseases & Conditions ➔ Respiratory Diseases
Pertussis (also called “whooping cough”) is a highly contagious bacterial infection that causes a severe cough.
Symptoms
Symptoms appear 6 to 21 (average 7-10) days after exposure to an infected person.
Pertussis may start with cold symptoms or simply a dry cough followed by episodes of severe coughing. Fever is absent or mild.
Gagging or vomiting may occur after severe coughing spells. Cough may be worse at night.
The person may look and feel healthy between coughing episodes.
Immunized school children, adolescents, and adults often have milder illness than young children.
Infants with pertussis may not develop a severe cough. They may only have a mild cough, decreased feeding, and may have difficulty breathing or turn bluish.
2007-01-16 17:38:18 · answer #1 · answered by Some Guy 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pertussis
2007-01-17 01:46:01 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
webmd.com Is an excellent site for information . Hope this helps .
2007-01-17 01:44:17 · answer #3 · answered by iambettyboop 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋