Is whooping cough bacterial or viral?
Pertussis, a respiratory illness commonly known as whooping cough, is a very contagious disease caused by a type of bacteria called Bordetella pertussis. These bacteria attach to the cilia (tiny, hair-like extensions) that line part of the upper respiratory system.
What does whooping cough bacteria look like?
Bordetella pertussis is a small (approximately 0.8 μm by 0.4 μm), rod-shaped, coccoid, or ovoid Gram-negative bacterium that is encapsulated and does not produce spores. It is a strict aerobe.
Is whooping cough a live virus?
Whooping cough vaccines cannot give you whooping cough since they do not contain any live bacteria. The whooping cough vaccines we use today for children and adults in the United States contain purified, inactivated parts of the bacterium that causes whooping cough (Bordetella pertussis).
What is the whooping cough virus called?
Pertussis, also known as whooping cough, is a highly contagious respiratory disease. It is caused by the bacterium Bordetella pertussis. Pertussis is known for uncontrollable, violent coughing which often makes it hard to breathe.
Does whooping cough need antibiotics?
Pertussis can be treated with antibiotics, but treatment may not cure the symptoms. However, antibiotics will reduce the spread of disease to others. Antibiotics lessen the symptoms if given during the early stages of illness.
What antibiotic kills whooping cough?
Some of the antibiotics your doctor may prescribe are: Azithromycin. Clarithromycin. Erythromycin.
Is pertussis droplet or airborne?
Pertussis is spread by respiratory droplets generated through coughing, sneezing and even talking. People with pertussis usually spread the disease while in close contact with others, who then breathe in the bacteria. An infected person is most contagious early in the course of illness.
Can you become immune to whooping cough?
Yes. When someone gets whooping cough, their body develops a natural immunity. However, it’s unknown how long that immunity lasts for each person, so routine vaccination against whooping cough is still recommended for people who have had whooping cough.
Is polio a bacteria or virus?
Polio is a viral disease which may affect the spinal cord causing muscle weakness and paralysis. The polio virus enters the body through the mouth, usually from hands contaminated with the stool of an infected person. Polio is more common in infants and young children and occurs under conditions of poor hygiene.