pertussis (redirected from Petussis)

pertussis: see whooping cough.

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whooping cough

 or pertussis

Acute, very contagious childhood disease, typically with bouts of coughing followed by a long, loud inhalation (whoop) and ending with mucus expulsion and often vomiting. Caused by the bacterium Bordetella pertussis, it initially resembles a cold with a short dry cough. Within one or two weeks, coughing bouts begin; this phase usually lasts four to six weeks. Serious complications include bronchopneumonia (pneumonia involving the bronchi), asphyxia, seizures, and signs of brain damage. Treatment is with antibiotics. The pertussis vaccine is usually combined with tetanus and diphtheria toxoids as part of routine childhood immunizations.

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pertussis [pər′təs·əs]

(medicine)

An infectious inflammatory bacterial disease of the air passages, caused byHemophilus pertussisand characterized by explosive coughing ending in a whooping inspiration. Also known as whooping cough.