whoopingcough

whoop·ing cough (ho͞oʹpĭng, hwo͞oʹ-, wo͞oʹ-, ho͝opʹĭng) n.

A highly contagious disease of the respiratory system, usually affecting children, that is caused by the bacterium Bordetella pertussis and is characterized in its advanced stage by spasms of coughing interspersed with deep, noisy inspirations. Also called pertussis.

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