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Questions and Answers
Which bacterium is responsible for causing whooping cough?
Which bacterium is responsible for causing whooping cough?
- Streptococcus pneumoniae
- Staphylococcus aureus
- Bordetella pertussis (correct)
- Escherichia coli
What characterizes the cough associated with whooping cough?
What characterizes the cough associated with whooping cough?
- A chronic, dry cough lasting for months
- Intermittent coughing with a barking sound
- Paroxysms of violent coughing followed by a whoop (correct)
- A steady, mild cough with no whoop
How is Bordetella pertussis primarily transmitted?
How is Bordetella pertussis primarily transmitted?
- Through contaminated water sources
- Through vector-borne transmission
- Via infected respiratory aerosols (correct)
- By direct contact with infected surfaces
In which population is whooping cough primarily considered a disease?
In which population is whooping cough primarily considered a disease?
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What type of microorganism is Bordetella pertussis classified as?
What type of microorganism is Bordetella pertussis classified as?
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Study Notes
Whooping Cough Overview
- Acute and highly communicable respiratory illness characterized by severe coughing fits, often resulting in a distinctive "whoop" sound upon inhalation.
- Primarily affects children, although it can occur in individuals of all ages.
Causative Agent
- Bordetella pertussis is the responsible bacterium; it is a small, gram-negative coccobacillus.
- Highly infectious, B. pertussis spreads mainly through respiratory droplets from infected individuals.
Transmission
- Transmitted from person to person, primarily through inhalation of aerosolized particles when an infected person coughs or sneezes.
- The contagious nature emphasizes the importance of vaccination and herd immunity in controlling spread.
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