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Disease Atlas / Disease detail

Pertussis

A clinical and public-health atlas of transmission, staged cough illness, testing windows, early antibiotics, and infant protection.

pertussis · whooping cough

MONDO:0005077Public QA completeSource-bound · 4

Disease at a glance

Start with the essentials, then explore the patient and research views.

Public revision · b5d13a6ff736

Disease class
Pertussis is an acute respiratory infection caused by Bordetella pertussis.
Core mechanism
It spreads mainly from person to person through respiratory droplets.
Genes or cause
Bacterial products including pertussis toxin contribute to respiratory injury and clinical features.
Typical features
Illness may begin like a cold, progress to paroxysmal coughing, and enter a convalescent phase lasting weeks to months.
Variability
Infants may have apnea rather than typical cough and are at particularly high risk of severe complications.
Diagnosis
Diagnosis evaluates symptoms and exposure and uses tests such as culture or PCR on a nasopharyngeal specimen.
Management
Diagnostic yield of culture and PCR varies with time since cough onset and antibiotic exposure.
Treatment and research
Antibiotics have the greatest effect on symptom severity when given in the first one to two weeks before paroxysmal cough.
Reading evidence
Recommended treatment and postexposure prophylaxis use macrolides or an alternative antibiotic according to age and context.
Key caution
Antibiotics started late may not alter the cough course, while infectiousness and transmission context require separate assessment.

For patients and families

A structured guide for understanding the disease and preparing for clinical conversations.

At a glance

Pertussis is an acute respiratory infection caused by Bordetella pertussis.

Illness may begin like a cold, progress to paroxysmal coughing, and enter a convalescent phase lasting weeks to months.

How the disease works

It spreads mainly from person to person through respiratory droplets.

Bacterial products including pertussis toxin contribute to respiratory injury and clinical features.

Why experiences vary

Infants may have apnea rather than typical cough and are at particularly high risk of severe complications.

Diagnosis and management

Diagnosis evaluates symptoms and exposure and uses tests such as culture or PCR on a nasopharyngeal specimen.

Treatment status

Diagnostic yield of culture and PCR varies with time since cough onset and antibiotic exposure.

Antibiotics have the greatest effect on symptom severity when given in the first one to two weeks before paroxysmal cough.

Reading clinical trials

Treatment, isolation, and prophylaxis for patients and high-risk contacts are coordinated under public-health guidance.

Topics for a clinical visit

Clinical discussion should distinguish symptom onset, high-risk factors such as infancy or pregnancy, test timing, treatment, and contact measures.

Medical notice

This material is for disease education and is not a personal diagnosis or treatment instruction.

Evidence and sources

A trial registry status does not establish efficacy or regulatory approval.