A bacterial infection that has become quite rare due to effective and widespread vaccination programs (DPT vaccine). Only about 4, 500 cases are reported annually in the U.S. Can present as a mild or severe illness.
Symptoms include runny nose, low-grade fever, conjunctivitis and a characteristic cough. Coughing spells end in a whoop caused by the forceful inspiration of air.
(13 Nov 1997)