The pathogen that causes whooping cough, Bordatella pertussis, was first isolated in 1906 by Bordet and Gengou. I don't know who was the first poor soul to have the cough drive them crazy, but I suspect that's not what you're asking.
the lungs and chest area is where most of the injury is done!!
Whooping cough has four stages that partially overlap: incubation, catarrhal stage, paroxysmal stage, and convalescent stage.