Causes of Whooping cough

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Whooping cough is caused by an infection of the lining of the breathing airways. The infection causes inflammation and swelling of these airways and makes them produce too much mucus.

The bacterium that causes whooping cough is called bordetella pertussis. It is carried in droplets of moisture in the air. When a child with the disease coughs or sneezes, they send out hundreds of infected water droplets into the air. This is why whooping cough is so infectious.

Older children are usually not seriously affected by whooping cough, but they can spread the infection to younger babies.