What are the three stages of Bordetella pertussis infection?
Pertussis is a highly contagious acute respiratory disease caused by the bacteria Bordetella pertussis. This disease has 3 stages: catarrhal, paroxysmal, and convalescent. The symptoms of the catarrhal stage are mild and may go unnoticed.
What is the signs and symptoms of pertussis?
After 1 to 2 weeks and as the disease progresses, the traditional symptoms of pertussis may appear and include:
- Paroxysms (fits) of many, rapid coughs followed by a high-pitched “whoop” sound.
- Vomiting (throwing up) during or after coughing fits.
- Exhaustion (very tired) after coughing fits.
What does Bordetella pertussis do to the body?
Bordetella pertussis causes whooping cough (pertussis), an acute respiratory infection marked by severe, spasmodic coughing episodes during the paroxysmal phase. Leukocytosis with lymphocytosis is also common during this phase of the illness. Dangerous complications are bronchopneumonia and acute encephalopathy.
What is the hallmark symptom of the disease caused by Bordetella pertussis?
Whooping cough, also known as pertussis, is caused by the bacterium Bordetella pertussis. The hallmark symptoms of whooping cough are violent coughing fits followed by a whooping sound made as a person gasps for air. Whooping cough is highly preventable through vaccination.
What is the treatment for Bordetella pertussis?
Several antibiotics are available to treat pertussis. The most popular are azithromycin, clarithromycin and erythromycin. If you have had pertussis for three weeks or more, antibiotics will not be prescribed because the bacteria are already gone from your body.
What are the long term effects of pertussis?
Less serious complications include ear infections, loss of appetite and dehydration. Although infrequent, complications affecting the brain, such as convulsions and inflammation, may occur, especially in infants, and can have long-term effects or cause death.
How does Bordetella pertussis move?
Bordetella pertussis cells can express flagellum-like structures on their surface. B. bronchiseptica motility is mediated by flagella, as B. bronchiseptica ΔflaA mutants are nonmotile (7, 8).
How does Bordetella pertussis spread?
Pertussis spreads from person to person. People with pertussis usually spread the disease to another person by coughing or sneezing or when spending a lot of time near one another where you share breathing space.
How can Bordetella pertussis be prevented?
The best way to prevent pertussis (whooping cough) among babies, children, teens, pregnant women, and adults is to get vaccinated. Also, keep babies and other people at high risk for pertussis complications away from infected people. Two vaccines in the United States help prevent whooping cough: DTaP and Tdap.