Which bacterium causes whooping cough, the respiratory infection marked by severe coughing fits?

Bordetella pertussis causes whooping cough, also called pertussis, a highly contagious respiratory infection marked by prolonged coughing fits.

The bacterium spreads mainly through respiratory droplets and attaches to the ciliated cells lining the airways. Its toxins damage or paralyze these cilia, which normally help clear mucus and debris. This contributes to the characteristic bouts of coughing and the noisy inhalation sometimes called a “whoop.”

Pertussis can affect people of any age, but it is especially dangerous for infants, who may have breathing pauses rather than a classic whoop. Vaccination with pertussis-containing vaccines is the main prevention method. Immunity can decrease over time, which is why booster doses are recommended in many countries.

Bordetella parapertussis can cause a similar illness, but it is a different species and is generally less associated with severe disease. The name of the illness, pertussis, comes from the Latin word for intense coughing.