<unk> , also known as whooping cough, is a highly contagious infectious disease caused by the bacterium Bordetella<unk> , a Gram-negative, aerobic, non-motile coccobacillus. The incidence of<unk>  is approximately 1.5 to 3.0 per 100,000 individuals, with approximately 5,000 to 7,000 cases reported annually.<unk>  is primarily a toxin-mediated disease. It is highly contagious and is usually transmitted to the human host by direct contact with aerolized mucus of infected individuals. Risk factors in the development of<unk>  include no or incomplete vaccination against<unk> , exposure to infected individuals, infants or children < 5 years of age, and immunocompromised status. The clinical course of the illness is divided into three stages: catarrhal, paroxysmal, and convalescent.  If left untreated, the majority of patients develop low-grade fever and coryza (runny nose, occasional cough) for 1-2 weeks, followed by paroxysmal fits of whooping cough that may last 1-6 weeks, before finally recovering from the disease. Compared with children, adolescents and adults usually experience a milder course of the disease, and the characteristic whooping cough may be absent. Unvaccinated or incompletely vaccinated infants younger than 12 months of age have the highest risk for developing severe infection and life-threatening complications and death. Prognosis is generally excellent, but unvaccinated or incompletely vaccinated infants younger than 12 months of age have the highest risk for severe and life-threatening complications and death. Complications of<unk>  may include apnea, pneumonia, otitis media, pneumothorax, refractory pulmonary hypertension, and seizure.<unk>  is usually suspected based on clinical findings and confirmed by either nasopharyngeal culture, polymerase chain reaction (PCR), or serology. The mainstay of treatment of<unk>  is antibiotic therapy with either a macrolide or trimethoprim-sulfamethoxasole. Post-exposure prophylaxis may be recommended among high-risk individuals. The primary prevention method for<unk>  is vaccination with multiple doses of the DTaP vaccine during childhood and adolescence/adulthood. Patients who had been infected with<unk>  or who have received vaccination against<unk>  in the past may be re-infected in the future, but typically experience a milder course of the disease.
Pertussis
Diphtheria
Influenza
Swine influenza
Avian influenza
Poliomyelitis
Anthrax
Freshers' Flu