Diphtheria Disease description a. It is transmitted by direct contact with discharges from respiratory mucous membranes of infected persons by the airborne route. It causes a severe cough of several weeks duration with a characteristic whoop, often with cyanosis and vomiting. In young infants, the cough may be absent and disease may manifest with spells of apnoea. Although pertussis may occur at any age, most cases of serious disease and the majority of fatalities are observed in early infancy.
Vaccines are the most rational approach to pertussis control.
Vaccine and Immunization Background information on Pertussis control.