The Sounds of Pertussis® Campaign is a national education campaign from March of Dimes and Sanofi Pasteur to help raise awareness about the potential dangers of pertussis, also known as whooping cough, and the importance of adult tetanus, diphtheria and acellular pertussis (Tdap) vaccination.

They're particularly susceptible to having very severe disease you see the infection. Happened in the airway or trachea. The pertussis bacteria produced toxins that irritate and inflame the airway.

What are the symptoms of whooping cough?

• Coughing, violently and rapidly, until all the air has left the lungs and a person is forced to inhale, causing a "whooping" sound.
• Sneezing.
• Nasal discharge.
• Fever.
• Sore, watery eyes.
• Lips, tongue, and nailbeds may turn blue during coughing spells.

Whooping cough, also known as pertussis, is a very contagious respiratory illness caused by a type of bacteria called Bordetella pertussis. The disease is only found in humans. Whooping cough bacteria attach to the cilia (tiny, hair-like extensions) that line part of the upper respiratory system.

Whooping cough (pertussis) is a highly contagious respiratory tract infection. In many people, it's marked by a severe hacking cough followed by a high-pitched intake of breath that sounds like "whoop." Before the vaccine was developed, whooping cough was considered a childhood disease.

The paroxysmal stage of Pertussis is characterized by episodes of coughing with a distinctive “whooping” sound when breathing in (inspiration). This characteristic cough gives the disease its common name, Whooping Cough. During the convalescent stage, episodes of coughing are less frequent and symptoms improve.

You will often know this sound as you will hear your child cough and it sounds like a seal barking. Whooping cough is a cough that makes your child throw up or choke (called the "whoop" sound) when he or she tries to breathe in; this can last for weeks or months at a time!

Parents have good reason for concern. Colds and pertussis begin with similar symptoms, so it's hard to tell the difference at first. But whooping cough is a highly contagious disease that gets worse after a few weeks, while common colds improve. People develop uncontrollable coughing fits that make it hard to breathe.

Whooping cough can feel uncomfortable and last for a long time. After one to 2 weeks, the cold symptoms get better, but the cough gets worse. After 2 to 6 weeks, the cough begins to get better. But it can take weeks to months for the cough to go away completely.

Whooping cough is very serious, especially for babies and young kids. Whooping cough can cause pneumonia, seizures, brain damage, and death. Babies younger than one year of age who get whooping cough may be hospitalized or even die.

Can pertussis be treated? Pertussis can be treated with antibiotics, but treatment may not cure the symptoms. However, antibiotics will reduce the spread of disease to others. Antibiotics lessen the symptoms if given during the early stages of illness.

Recovery from whooping cough can be slow. The cough becomes milder and less common as you get better. Coughing fits may stop for a while but can return if you get other respiratory infections. Coughing fits can return many months after the whooping cough illness started.