Whooping-cough

{hoof -ping-kawf). An infectious disease characterized by catarrhal inflammation of the air-pa ages and peculiar paroxysms of cough ending in a loud whooping inspiration. It is most frequent in children, and is probably due to a specific microorganism. The disease begins with symptoms of coryza and bronchitis, which in from one to two weeks are followed by the so-called paroxysmal stage, characterized by a violent cough, at the close of which occurs a loud whoop and often vomiting. This stage lasts from three to four weeks and is succeeded by the stage of decline. Complications, such as catarrhal pneumonia, emphysema, atelectasis, hernia, cerebral hemorrhage, and others, may occur. 664