Whooping Cough - Description

Whooping cough is caused by a bacterium called Bortadella pertussis. When inhaled, the bacterium attaches itself to cilia in the respiratory (breathing) tract. Cilia are tiny, hair-like projections on cells that beat back and forth constantly. This motion helps clear the respiratory system of bacteria, viruses, dead cells, and other material.

Bortadella pertussis interferes with the motion of cilia. The materials normally cleared away by cilia become lodged in the respiratory system and the cough that results is the body's way of attempting to rid the respiratory system of these materials.

Whooping cough exists everywhere in the world and can lead to a variety of diseases and complications, including death. Whooping cough can occur in people of all ages, but it is most serious when it strikes children under the age of two.

A person who has whooping cough at a young age becomes partially immune to the disease, which means that the person is less likely to have the same disease later in life.