Bordetella pertussis causes whooping cough, which was once a deadly disease but is now rare thanks to vaccination. The bacterium colonizes the airways and generates toxins that weaken the immune system and cause a severe cough. Treatment involves antibiotics and support, and infected individuals should avoid contact with vulnerable people.
Bordetella pertussis is a bacterium responsible for bordetella, also known as whooping cough. This infectious disease once killed thousands of people every year and caused substantial job loss for patients who survived the infection. Today it is relatively rare thanks to the fact that a vaccine has been developed. While Bordetella pertussis is still present in the human population, most people are able to resist colonization by the bacteria and thus remain healthy.
This bacterium is gram negative and aerobic, requiring air to survive. No non-human hosts have been identified for the bacterium, and bordetella infections appear to work in cycles. Due to widespread vaccination practices, those most at risk of infection are unvaccinated infants and older adults with immunity that has declined over time. Individuals who choose not to vaccinate are also at risk and can act as a reservoir for the bacteria, putting others at risk because they carry the bacteria and can pass it on to vulnerable people.
When Bordetella pertussis enters the airways because someone has inhaled bacteria expelled by someone else, it immediately begins to colonize the airways. It secretes substances that help it adhere to the tissue of the airways, and it also generates toxins that paralyze the eyelashes, making it difficult to clear the airways of mucus. People develop a characteristic whooping sound when breathing due to inflammation triggered by the Bordetella pertussis bacteria and cough in an attempt to clear the airways. The immune system is also weakened by toxins secreted by Bordetella pertussis bacteria.
Bordetella can cause an extremely severe cough. People have been known to break ribs due to infection. Treatment for people with an active Bordetella pertussis infection primarily focuses on giving antibiotics to reduce the intensity of the infection and providing support to help the patient breathe more comfortably. Even with treatment, whooping cough can be very debilitating and the patient is highly contagious.
A culture is usually not needed to confirm Bordetella pertussis infection. The distinctive sound associated with the infection is enough for a doctor to determine that the patient has bordetella. People who have been diagnosed with this infection should follow the treatment protocol and avoid being around people who have not been vaccinated. Additionally, they should avoid people with compromised immune systems, such as people with AIDS and cancer.
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