Disease or Syndrome
pertussis Audio
per·tus·sis [ per-tuhs-is ]
Subclass of:
Respiratory Tract Infections; Bordetella Infections
Also called:
Whooping Cough
Definitions related to pertussis:
  • A serious bacterial infection of the lungs and breathing tubes that spreads easily. Pertussis begins like a cold, but develops into severe coughing and gasping for air. Long spells of coughing may cause vomiting, and broken blood vessels in the eyes and on the skin.
    NCI Dictionary of Cancer Terms
    U.S. National Cancer Institute, 2021
  • Respiratory infection caused by Bordetella pertussis and characterized by paroxysmal coughing ending in a prolonged crowing intake of breath; whooping cough.
    CRISP Thesaurus
    National Institutes of Health, 2006
  • (whooping cough) A bacterial respiratory infection caused by Bordetella pertussis, which is characterized by severe and uncontrollable cough, resulting in a whooping sound during breathing following the cough.
    NICHD Pediatric Terminology
    U.S. National Cancer Institute, 2021
  • (whooping cough) A contagious bacterial respiratory infection caused by Bordetella pertussis. It is characterized by severe and uncontrollable cough, resulting in a whooping sound during breathing following the cough.
    NCI
    U.S. National Cancer Institute, 2021
  • (whooping cough) A respiratory infection caused by BORDETELLA PERTUSSIS and characterized by paroxysmal coughing ending in a prolonged crowing intake of breath.
    NLM Medical Subject Headings
    U.S. National Library of Medicine, 2025
  • Pertussis is a highly communicable disease occurring mostly in children and adolescents and caused by the gram-negative bacterium Bordetella pertussis. Symptoms are initially those of nonspecific upper respiratory infection followed by paroxysmal or spasmodic coughing that usually ends in a prolonged, high-pitched, crowing inspiration...
    Merck Manuals
    Merck & Co., Inc., 2025
  • Pertussis (whooping cough) is a respiratory tract infection characterized by a paroxysmal cough. The most common causative organism is Bordetella pertussis (see the image below), though Bordetella parapertussis has also been associated with this condition in humans.
    Medscape
    WebMD, 2025
  • Pertussis (also known as whooping cough) is an upper respiratory tract infection (URTI) characterized by a severe cough. Bordetella pertussis is the typical etiological agent. Patients can be infectious for several weeks if it is left untreated. B pertussis will spontaneously clear from the nasopharynx within 3 to 4 weeks from the onset...
    Epocrates
    Athenahealth, Inc., 2019
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This content should not be used in place of medically-reviewed decision support reference material or professional medical advice. Some terms may have alternate or updated definitions not reflected in this set. The definitions on this page should not be considered complete or up to date.