Final answer:
Pertussis, also known as whooping cough, is caused by the bacterium Bordetella pertussis. It is characterized by mucus accumulation in the lungs and severe coughing. Vaccination is the best way to control pertussis.
Step-by-step explanation:
The medical term pertussis actually refers to whooping cough. Pertussis is caused by a bacterium called Bordetella pertussis, which leads to mucus accumulation in the lungs and a prolonged period of severe coughing. The name 'whooping cough' comes from the distinctive 'whooping' sound that is produced when air is inhaled through the inflamed and restricted airway.
Pertussis is highly contagious and is primarily transmitted through droplet transmission. Vaccination is an effective way to control this disease, with vaccines like DTaP and Tdap containing a pertussis toxoid component.