WHOOPING COUGH Meaning and
Definition
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Whooping cough, medically known as pertussis, is a highly contagious respiratory tract infection caused by the bacterium Bordetella pertussis. It primarily affects the upper airways, including the windpipe (trachea) and the two major bronchi that branch off from it. The name "whooping cough" derives from the characteristic "whoop" sound made when an infected person gasps for breath after a severe coughing spell.
The initial symptoms of whooping cough resemble those of a common cold, such as a runny or stuffy nose, low-grade fever, and mild cough. However, after about one to two weeks, the cough typically worsens and progresses to severe, uncontrollable coughing fits. These fits can result in rapid, forceful coughs occurring consecutively without the ability to catch one's breath, thus causing the characteristic whooping sound upon inhalation.
The severity of whooping cough can vary, but it can be particularly dangerous in infants, young children, and individuals with weakened immune systems. Complications of the infection may include pneumonia, seizures, brain damage, and even death. Vaccination with the pertussis vaccine is the most effective preventive measure against whooping cough.
Treatment of whooping cough generally involves the administration of antibiotics to decrease the severity of symptoms, limit the spread of the infection, and reduce the risk of complications. Infected individuals are advised to practice good hygiene, such as covering their mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing, to prevent transmission.
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Pertussis, tussis convulsiva; an acute infectious disease marked by recurrent attacks of spasmodic coughing continued until the breath is exhausted, then ending.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
Common Misspellings for WHOOPING COUGH
- qhooping cough
- ahooping cough
- shooping cough
- ehooping cough
- 3hooping cough
- 2hooping cough
- wgooping cough
- wbooping cough
- wnooping cough
- wjooping cough
- wuooping cough
- wyooping cough
- whioping cough
- whkoping cough
- whloping cough
- whpoping cough
- wh0oping cough
- wh9oping cough
- whoiping cough
Etymology of WHOOPING COUGH
The word "whooping cough" has a straightforward etymology. It originates from the characteristic sound, a "whooping" noise, produced by individuals affected by the illness. The word "cough" refers to the act of coughing, a symptom commonly associated with the infection. When someone with whooping cough coughs, the sound is distinctive and resembles a "whoop", giving rise to the name of the disease.
Similar spelling words for WHOOPING COUGH
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