Whooping cough or pertussis, over the last twenty years,. According to the CDC the number of cases are increasing, especially among teenagers and infants.

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"It's a cough, cough, cough, cough, then proceeding whoop, losing the breath and deep breath in and this cough can cause a lot of respiratory distress," said Dr. Manny Cirenza.

Since the 70s a vaccine has helped keep the number of infections low, until recently. Why? Experts say the increase is because the whooping cough vaccine you receive as a child eventually wears off, leaving most teenagers and adults susceptible to the infection during an outbreak. Also, babies under the age of six months haven't received enough of the vaccine and aren't fully immune leaving them at greatest risk of contracting the infection.

Early signs look like a cold, runny nose, nasal congestion, a mild fever and a dry cough. After a week or two, symptoms worsen and you may experience prolonged coughing attacks, thick phlegm, vomiting and extreme fatigue.

Adolescents who get pertussis generally have mild symptoms that can last a few weeks but they can pass it onto infants which sometimes can require hospitalization. The infection spreads easily though droplets in the air.

"You will pick it up mostly through droplet transmission. People will cough, there are droplets in the air, or touch things and touch your mouth," Cirenza said.

It's treated with antibiotics.The vaccine is given several times before the child's fifth birthday. The vaccine is highly recommended even for adults.

"There is a pertussis vaccine available for adults as well. Now there is state law it is required if you enter into sixth grade," said Cirenza.