Whooping Cough

Whooping cough is a highly contagious respiratory infection caused by a bacterium that affects the airways and causes intense, prolonged coughing fits. It can be especially delicate in infants and young children.

How it shows up: Repeated coughing fits, sometimes followed by a high-pitched sound when breathing in, which may be accompanied by vomiting or difficulty breathing.

Why it matters: It is a disease that can be prevented through the vaccinations included in the standard immunization schedules.

Which specialists treat it? The pediatrician is the first point of reference in childhood, with support from the infectious disease specialist, the pediatric infectious disease specialist, and the pulmonologist depending on the case. If a child has a persistent cough in fits, the prudent thing is to seek timely medical evaluation.