What does whooping cough (pertussis) sound like?

This is what whooping cough (pertussis) sounds like.  It is a highly contagious infection that can be lethal, especially to children less than one year of age.  Most children will die from respiratory distress, although some will succumb to seizures or encephalitis (brain infection).   Pertussis can be prevented in over half the patients who are immunized, and its severity significantly reduced in the remaining group.  Panhandle Health Department has just issued a bulletin stating that there is an outbreak in Kootenai County, Idaho.  Although treatable with antibiotics such as erythromycin or Zithromax, we encourage children, adolescents and adults to update their immunization status so they may protect themselves and their families from this potentially deadly disease…Richard R. Samuel, MD     Family Practice and Urgent Care