WHOOPING-COUGH or HOOPING-COUGH (syn. Pertussis, Chin-cough), a specific infective disease starting in the respiratory mucous membrane, depending on a cocco-bacillus described by Bordet and Gengon in 1906 (see PARASITIC DISEASES), and mani festing itself by frequently recurring paroxysms of convulsive coughing accompanied with peculiar sonorous inspirations (or whoops). Although specially a disease of childhood, whooping cough may occur at any time of life. There is a distinct period of incubation variously estimated at from two to ten days.
The first stage is characterized by the ordinary phenomena of a catarrh, but the presence of an ulcer on the fraenum linguae is said to be diagnostic. The catarrhal stage usually lasts from ten to
fourteen days. The second stage is marked by abatement of the catarrhal symptoms, but increase in the cough, which now occurs in irregular paroxysms both by day and by night. This stage of the disease usually continues for from one to two months. Pos sible complications are bronchopneumonia (see BRONCHITIS), and convulsions. When, however, the disease progresses favourably, the cough becomes less frequent and generally loses in great measure its "whooping" character.
There is no specific treatment for whooping-cough; sunlight or, in its absence, ultra-violet light, with plenty of open air, is beneficial.