Whooping Cough

Pertussis is a disease caused by Bordetella pertussis is a gram-negative, aerobic, pathogenic, encapsulated coccobacillus of the genus Bordetella that produces endotoxins and exotoxins. This bacterial infection is found in the lower respiratory tract and is commonly referred to as Whooping Cough. Whooping cough is highly contagious. Classic symptoms include fever and cold like symptoms followed by paroxysmal coughing episodes that leave the infected person gasping for breath with a characteristic “whoop” followed by another coughing spasm. The bacterium contains a surface protein which binds to the cilia of epithelial cells. Once attached, the bacterium stops the cilia from beating. This prevents the cilia from clearing debris from