whooping cough

whooping cough definition - medical

whoop·ing cough (ho͞oˈpĭng, wo͞oˈ-, ho͝opˈĭng)

noun
A highly contagious disease of the respiratory system, usually affecting children, that is caused by Bordetella pertussis and is marked in its advanced stage by spasms of coughing interspersed with deep, noisy inspirations. Also called pertussis.

The American Heritage® Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

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