Subtitle: What Bacteria Causes Whooping Cough?
Whooping cough, also known as pertussis, is an infectious respiratory disease caused by the bacteria Bordetella pertussis. The bacteria attaches to the cilia, which are tiny hairs in the respiratory tract, and releases toxins that damage the cilia, resulting in severe coughing spells and difficulty breathing. The disease is highly contagious and can spread quickly through droplets in the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes.
Whooping cough is most common in infants and young children, but can also affect adults and adolescents. The symptoms of whooping cough can include a runny nose, mild fever, and a dry cough that gradually becomes more severe, with bouts of intense coughing and a "whoop" sound when inhaling. Other symptoms may include vomiting after coughing, exhaustion, and a bluish tinge to the skin from lack of oxygen. Treatment involves antibiotics to reduce the severity and duration of the infection. Vaccination is the best way to prevent whooping cough.
Bordetella pertussis is a Gram-negative, aerobic, rod-shaped coccobacillus bacterium. It is highly contagious and is the causative agent of whooping cough. The bacterium attaches to the cilia in the respiratory tract, releases toxins, and causes inflammation that damages the cilia. The damaged cilia can no longer effectively remove secretions from the lungs, resulting in a persistent cough.