Whooping cough, due to Bordetella pertussis and Bordetella parapertussis, is an important cause of childhood morbidity and mortality. Despite widespread pertussis immunization in childhood ...

FILE - This 2016 illustration provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, based on electron microscope imagery, depicts Bordetella pertussis bacteria, which causes whooping cough.

Dr. Leana Wen: Whooping cough, also called pertussis, is a highly contagious respiratory illness caused by the bacteria Bordetella pertussis. These bacteria are spread from person to person.

FILE - This 2016 illustration provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, based on electron microscope imagery, depicts Bordetella pertussis bacteria, which causes whooping cough.

Today’s whooping cough vaccines contain an acellular pertussis component, which is derived from inactive parts of the bacterium that causes whooping cough, Bordetella pertussis, per CDC. “( ...

Whooping cough is a respiratory infection caused by the bacteria Bordetella pertussis. It is characterized by intense coughing fits that can end with a “whooping” sound when someone exhales.

In addition, there are people with preexisting health conditions that may be exacerbated by pertussis. These include those who are immunocompromised or have moderate to severe asthma. Wen ...

Whooping cough is a very contagious respiratory illness caused by a type of bacteria called Bordetella pertussis. These bacteria attach to the cilia in the upper respiratory system and release toxins.

“The crux of the disease is that it’s caused by this particular bacteria, Bordetella pertussis, which creates a toxin, and that toxin can be very damaging to our lungs,” says Amy ...

An illustration of Bordetella pertussis bacteria, which causes whooping cough (Meredith Newlove/CDC via AP, File) Whooping cough tends to peak around this time of year and in the fall. It's ...