Pertussis (Whooping Cough) By Larry M Bush, MD, FACP, Charles E Schmidt College of Medicine, Florida Atlantic University; Maria T Vazquez-Pertejo, MD, FACP, Wellington Regional Medical Center Reviewed / Revised Apr 2022 | Modified Sep 2022 View Patient Education Symptoms and Signs Diagnosis Treatment Prevention Key Points More Information Topic Resources Whooping Cough (Paroxysm) Whooping Cough (Classic Whoop) Whooping Cough (Adult Patient) Pertussis Incidence by Age... Pertussis is a highly communicable disease occurring mostly in children and adolescents and caused by the gram-negative bacterium Bordetella pertussis.