Whooping Cough
Whooping Cough
A. Name the bacteria that cause this childhood disease. What is its morphology? bacillus bordetella pertussis. B. pertussis is an extremely small, strictly aerobic, Gram negative, cocobacillus short rod.
What does “Wooping Cough” mean?
Pertussis is a highly contagious bacterial disease that causes uncontrollable, violent coughing. The coughing can make it hard to breathe. A deep "whooping" sound is often heard when the patient tries to take a breath.
Describe in detail the method of transmission of the disease. is transmitted from human-to-human via contact with discharge from respiratory membranes or inhalation of infectious respiratory droplets
B. What percentage of people exposed to this highly communicable disease become infected?
It infects between 80 and 90% of people that are exposed.
C. What is the most common age range in humans that are susceptible to this bacterial infection?
Immunity to pertussis appears to wane during childhood. Peak susceptibility appears to be during early adolescence. Adults do not seem to be at greater risk than adolescents for developing the disease, but it seems unlikely that this is due to better immunity. Rather, it is related to a lower risk of exposure to pertussis and a lower rate of progression to symptomatic disease when adults are infected.
What does “communicable” mean? Can this bacteria be passed through fomites?
An infectious disease who’s pathogens passed from one human to another are called infections, transmissible or communicable disease. The bacillus Bordetella pertussis is an airborne bacterium, however it can rarely be transmitted through fomites.
D. What are the signs and symptoms of this disease? How long does it take for this infection to be completely resolved? What is the incubation period? Are there any sequelae? What is meant by “respiratory disease”?
The signs and symptoms are usually cold-like symptoms, mild cough and/or fever. Unlike the common cold,
A. Name the bacteria that cause this childhood disease. What is its morphology? bacillus bordetella pertussis. B. pertussis is an extremely small, strictly aerobic, Gram negative, cocobacillus short rod.
What does “Wooping Cough” mean?
Pertussis is a highly contagious bacterial disease that causes uncontrollable, violent coughing. The coughing can make it hard to breathe. A deep "whooping" sound is often heard when the patient tries to take a breath.
Describe in detail the method of transmission of the disease. is transmitted from human-to-human via contact with discharge from respiratory membranes or inhalation of infectious respiratory droplets
B. What percentage of people exposed to this highly communicable disease become infected?
It infects between 80 and 90% of people that are exposed.
C. What is the most common age range in humans that are susceptible to this bacterial infection?
Immunity to pertussis appears to wane during childhood. Peak susceptibility appears to be during early adolescence. Adults do not seem to be at greater risk than adolescents for developing the disease, but it seems unlikely that this is due to better immunity. Rather, it is related to a lower risk of exposure to pertussis and a lower rate of progression to symptomatic disease when adults are infected.
What does “communicable” mean? Can this bacteria be passed through fomites?
An infectious disease who’s pathogens passed from one human to another are called infections, transmissible or communicable disease. The bacillus Bordetella pertussis is an airborne bacterium, however it can rarely be transmitted through fomites.
D. What are the signs and symptoms of this disease? How long does it take for this infection to be completely resolved? What is the incubation period? Are there any sequelae? What is meant by “respiratory disease”?
The signs and symptoms are usually cold-like symptoms, mild cough and/or fever. Unlike the common cold,
References: Ingraham, J. L. Introduction to Microbiology. http://.philly.com/philly/blogs/healthykids/ (http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/lab-bio/res/psds-ftss/bordetella-pertussis-eng.php) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2094882 http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/pinkbook/downloads/pert.pdf http://www.plosone.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0046407