See a health care provider if you or your child are coughing violently. Get immediate care for breathing difficulties.
Whooping cough, also known as pertussis, is a very contagious respiratory disease caused. It is caused by the bacterium Bordetella pertussis.
Whooping cough is known for uncontrollable, violent coughing which often makes it hard to breathe. After fits of many coughs, someone with whooping cough often needs to take deep breaths which result in a "whooping" sound. Whooping cough can affect people of all ages, but can be very serious, even deadly, for babies less than a year old. Other people at high risk of severe illness include those with immunocompromised conditions and moderate to severe asthma.