We are unable to answer specific questions about whooping cough. Contact your physician for more information. The Lafene Health Center staff at Kansas State University prepared this fact sheet to provide more specific information about this disease, which was once considered only a disease of childhood. Pertussis or whooping cough is a contagious disease involving the respiratory tract. The bacteria is found in the mouth, nose and throat of an infected person.
Pertussis can occur at any age.
It is most dangerous to young children but can cause severe coughing in adults that lasts for many weeks to months. Pertussis is spread by direct contact with discharges from the nose and throat of infected individuals. Pertussis begins as a mild upper respiratory infection. Initially, symptoms resemble a common cold, including sneezing, runny nose, low grade fever and mild cough. Within two weeks the disease enters it second stage.