Yes, Whooping Cough and Pertussis Are the Same Disease
Pertussis and whooping cough are identical—they refer to the same respiratory infection caused by the bacterium Bordetella pertussis. 1, 2
Terminology and Nomenclature
The term "pertussis" is the medical/scientific name for the disease, while "whooping cough" is the common descriptive name based on the characteristic high-pitched inspiratory sound ("whoop") that patients make when gasping for breath after severe coughing paroxysms. 2, 3
Both terms are used interchangeably in medical literature, clinical guidelines, and public health communications without any distinction in meaning. 1, 4
The disease is caused by Bordetella pertussis, a small pleomorphic Gram-negative coccobacillus that invades ciliated epithelial cells of the respiratory tract. 1, 3
Why Two Names Exist
"Whooping cough" derives from the classic clinical presentation during the paroxysmal phase, when patients experience severe coughing fits followed by the distinctive "whooping" sound during rapid inspiration. 4, 2
However, the characteristic "whoop" is frequently absent in adults, previously vaccinated individuals, and infants, yet the disease remains the same. 4, 5
The medical term "pertussis" is preferred in scientific contexts, while "whooping cough" remains widely recognized by the general public and is often used in patient education materials. 6, 7
Clinical Presentation Regardless of Name Used
The disease progresses through three distinct phases: catarrhal (1-2 weeks with nonspecific symptoms), paroxysmal (4-6 weeks with severe coughing), and convalescent (2-6 weeks of gradual improvement). 4, 2
Key diagnostic features include paroxysmal cough, posttussive vomiting, inspiratory whooping, and absence of fever, though the classic whoop may be absent in many cases. 1, 4
The infection has been nicknamed the "hundred day cough" due to its prolonged duration, regardless of which term is used to describe it. 1