Whooping Cough Cause: Whooping Cough, also known as Pertussis, is a highly contagious disease affecting the respiratory system (nose, throat, lungs and airways) and is caused by the bacterium Bordetella pertussis. The ‘whoop’ from the cough derives from the deep breaths at the end of each bout of coughing. Whooping cough is very infectious and affects individuals of all ages. Transmission: Whooping cough is transmitted via close personal contact, uncovered sneezes and coughing from infected people. Whooping cough is also transmitted through the droplets in the air and it can develop from the upper respiratory tract (including the nose, throat and windpipe) infections. Any individuals that are close to infected people may be exposed to their germs. Duration between exposure and getting sick usually takes a week and up to three weeks. Host Response: The bacterium of Whooping Cough can live independently inside a human host. The growth of the population of the bacteria grows very slowly but effectively. Once the bacterium enters into the host, it infects the lining of the airways this includes mainly the trachea (windpipe) and the bronchi (branches from the lungs). Once into contact with the lining of the airways, the bacterium Bordetella Pertussis multiplies and causes a build of mucus and phlegm. The bacterium causes the airways to swell up and make them narrower than usual results in difficulty in breathing. After a while, the organisms of the bacteria eventually die out due to the immune response of the person or the antibiotics taken, or sometimes they are transmitted to another person where the same process of colonisation may occur again. Major Symptoms: The symptoms of Whooping Cough are divided into 3 different stages. ... ... middle of paper ... ... taken, they must stay away from any childcares, school or workplaces for at least five days but if worse, then up to three weeks depending on the severity of the symptoms. Validity and Reliability of Sources: The sources that I have researched on the internet all describe the characteristics of Whooping Cough (Pertussis) are valid, this is due to the fact that majority of these websites are from government websites meaning that they are legitimate and the other websites have been written and edited by professionals of the health care department. Towards the reliability area, all website sources that I have utilised in researching have all came up with basically the same information repetitively and these websites that I have looked at have been used and the non-valid and non-reliable sources have not been used due to its lack of information and inconsistency.
After an incubation period of five to ten days, or as long as 21 days, numerous symptoms can be observed. The symptoms come in two stages. The first stage consists of common cold symptoms such as sneezing, runny nose, low-grade fever, and a mild cough. It is during this time that the disease is most contagious, and it lasts from one to two weeks.
Whooping cough is a highly contagious and acute respiratory disease caused by an aerobic Gram negative encapsulated coco-bacillus bacterium, Bordetella pertussis. It is a strict human pathogen with no known animal or environmental reservoirs and an air-borne disease. On inhalation, Bordetella pertussis colonizes the ciliated cells of the bronchio-epithelium to cause disease characterised by; epithelial damage, hyper mucus secretion, pulmonary edema and paroxysmal coughing. It is often accompanied by pneumonia, otitis edema, seizures, post-tussive vomiting and encephalopathy (1).
Pertussis: Pertussis also known as whopping cough is a highly contagious bacterial disease that causes an uncontrollable, severe coughing. It is a serious disease that can affect individual of all ages with severe complication resulting in permanent disability in infants and lastly death. The fact that this 7-months old baby stay up night, inability to sleep can make it hard to breathe. Burns, Cotter, Harvill, Hewlett, Merkel, Stibitz & Quinn explained that pertussis is an upper respiratory infection caused by the Bordetella pertussis bacteria in addition to the systemic manifestations such as “lympocytosis, dysregulated secr...
The article’s information is presented with the goal of informing a reader on vaccines. The evidence is statistical and unbiased, showing data on both side effects and disease prevention, providing rates of death and serious illness from both sides. This evidence is sourced from a variety of medical organizations and seems reliable, logical, and easily understood, no language that would inspire an emotional response is used. The validity of studies is not mentioned in the article, but it does encourage readers to investigate further to help make a decision. The article allows a reader to analyze the presented evidence and come to their own
If the pathogen can overcome the host defenses, the host will be damaged and may not survive. If, on the other hand, the host defenses overcome the pathogen, the microparasite may fail to establish itself within the host and die. The main objectives of the pathogen are to gain entry inside the host, once inside grow and reproduce, and avoid host defenses. There are three possible routes of infection: respiratory, inflammatory, and traumatic. The respiratory route is the easiest and most direct means of entry.
Tuberculosis as (TB) is caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis. It is slow growing bacteria that thrive in areas of the body that are rich in blood and oxygen, such as the lungs. Tuberculosis develops when Mycobacterium tuberculosis bacteria are inhaled into the lungs. The infection usually stays in the lungs, but the bacteria can travel through the bloodstream to other parts of the body.
In order to be infected with the mumps virus one must be in direct contact with it . The virus is spread though salivary and respiratory secretions of its host which are humans (Marjorie, K.C.). Whether though kissing or through droplets of a simple sneeze the virus is spread very easily and is also very contagious. Once infected with the virus the normal nonspecific symptoms begin to occur such as headaches, malaise and muscle pain. Only after about 16-18 days will you see specific symptoms such as parotitis whic...
It began with infection mainly in the blood vessels of the human skin and mouth, resulting in different kinds of symptoms that turn into serious stages. It was spread by physical contact with human skin and mostly affected children and adults. This disease was so outrageous that it led to a vast number of deaths in New England colonies. Also, smallpox virus is transmitted through airborne infection from the oral, nasal mucus of the infected person. But mostly was spread from close contact or contaminated material of the infected person.
Other ways hepatitis A can be transmitted from person to person are through direct contact with an infected person, such as sexual contact, and sharing of needles for intravenous drug use. Hepatitis A can also be transmitted by coming in contact with contaminated food or water. Also, foods that are uncooked or undercooked and have been contaminated with Hepatitis A can transmit the virus. Bennett, A. J.,2016; World Health Organization, 2017) Hepatitis A can affect a person of any age group.
Recent research shows that, there are three major means by which infections can be transmitted and they include direct transmission, indirect transmission and airborne transmission (Hinman,Wasserheit and Kamb,1995). Direct transmission occurs when the physical contact between an infected person and s susceptible person takes place (division of public health, 2011). An example is a health care worker who attends to an Ebola patient, without gloves, gown and mask plus forget to wash his or her hand with soap and hot water and or a person having flu without the use of mask or washes his hand after sneezing easily passes the infection to the other through hand shake or surface touch, living the bacteria there for another vulnerable person to also touch if the surface is not disinfected with bleach. Studies makes it clear that, the spreads takes effect when disease-causing microorganisms pass from the infected person to the healthy person through direct physical contact such as touching of blood, body fluids, contact with oral secretion, bites kissing, contact with body lesions and even sexual contact. However, measles and chicken pox are said to be conditions spread by direct
Myobaterium tuberculosis is a nonmoving, slow-growing, acid-fast rod transmitted via aerosolization (airborne route). People who are most often infected are those having repeated close contact with an infectious person who has not yet been diagnosed with TB (Ignatavicius and Workman, 2006). Therefore, when a person with active TB coughs, sneeze, laughs, sings, or whistles, droplet become air borne and may be inhaled by others. Far more people are infected with the bacillus than actually develop active TB. The bacillus multiplies freely when it reaches a susceptible site (bronchi or alveoli). The majority of the bacilli are trapped in the upper parts of the airways where the mucus-secreting goblet cells exist. An exudative response occurs, causing a nonspecific pneumonitis (Ignatavicius and Workman, 2006). With the development of acquired immunity, further growth of bacilli is controlled in most initial lesions. Bacilli can also spread by erosion of the caseating lesions into the lung airways -and the host becomes infectious to others. Cell-mediated immunity develops 2 to 10 weeks after infection and is manifested by a positive reaction to a tuberculin test. Skin testing for tuberculosis is useful test to detect. According to Universi...
Influenza is an acute respiratory illness caused by infection of influenza A and B viruses. The disease can affect both the upper and lower respiratory tract and is often followed by systemic signs and symptoms, such as: sudden onset of fever, chills, non-productive cough, myalgias (muscle pain), headache, nasal congestion, sore throat, and fatigue. (Cox et al.1998). Influenza viruses evolve continuously, challenging mammalian and avian hosts with new variants and causing complex epidemic patterns with regard to age, place, and time. Human influenza viruses cause disease through a variety of direct and indirect pathological effects. The direct effects include destruction of infected cells, damage to respiratory epithelium, and immunological responses that cause general malaise and pneumonia. Indirect effects of infection include secondary bacterial infections due to the tissue damage and other disease such as cardiovascular disease, renal disease, diabetes or chronic pulmonary disease (Schoenbaum S.1996). In the USA, clinical illness affects 5–20% of the population and asymptomatically infects a larger number (Noble G.1982). Infants, who are exposed to influenza epidemics as a novel antigenic challenge after maternal antibodies decline, may have attack rates as high as 30–50% in their first year of life, depending on the frequency of contacts with older siblings (Glezen et al.1997). For reasons, influenza viruses cause epidemics in the northern and southern hemisphere during their respective winters. In the tropics, the timing of activity is less defined, with sometimes year-round circulation or bi-seasonal peaks during the year (Viboud et al.2006).
Chronic bronchitis is a disorder that causes inflammation to the airway, mainly the bronchial tubules. It produces a chronic cough that lasts three consecutive months for more than two successive years (Vijayan,2013). Chronic Bronchitis is a member of the COPD family and is prominently seen in cigarette smokers. Other factors such as air pollutants, Asbestos, and working in coal mines contributes to inflammation. Once the irritant comes in contact with the mucosa of the bronchi it alters the composition causing hyperplasia of the glands and producing excessive sputum (Viayan,2013). Goblet cells also enlarge to contribute to the excessive secretion of sputum. This effects the cilia that carry out the mechanism of trapping foreign bodies to allow it to be expelled in the sputum, which are now damaged by the irritant making it impossible for the person to clear their airway. Since the mechanism of airway clearance is ineffective, the secretion builds up a thickened wall of the bronchioles causing constriction and increasing the work of breathing. The excessive build up of mucous could set up pneumonia. The alveoli are also damaged enabling the macrophages to eliminate bacteria putting the patient at risk for acquiring an infection.
Knowing the background information of viral pneumonia is vital in treating the disease in premature babies. Two scientists, Hippocrates and Maimonides, discovered pneumonia between 450 B.C. and 380 B.C as well as in the early nineteenth century. Hippocrates discovered pneumonia, but knew very little about it. On the other hand, Maimonides knew more about pneumonia and described it more thoroughly than Hippocrates. He described pneumonia as a disease causing acute fever, sticking pain in the side, short rapid breaths, and jagged pulse and cough (Meeks and Heit 492). “Viral pneumonia occurs more in young children than older adults because the bodies of young children have a harder time fighting off the virus and it is often caused by one of the several viruses: adenovirus, influenza, parainfluenza, and respiratory syncytial virus” (“Viral Pneumonia”). Viral pneumonia develops in children in about five to seven days, but bacterial pneumonia is more severe (McKenzie and et. al. 396). “Pneumonia affects approximately four million individuals each year. It is the most common cause of infectious death in the United States” (Neighbors and Jones 162). Viral pneumonia occ...
Now that we are living in an ever changing world, technology is viewed as the most resourceful tool in keeping up with the pace. Without the use of technology, communication would be limited to using mail for delivery and encyclopedias for research. Although technology has improved the way we communicate and find information for research, the information is not always valid. Unfortunately, for those of us who use the internet for shopping, research, or reading articles of personal interest the information is not treated the same as a your magazine or book. While such literature is reviewed by an editorial staff, internet literature or information can be published by anyone. In order to reap the full benefit of having the use of technology for any purpose, there are five basic criteria’s one must keep in mind as an evaluating tool for deciding whether or not the particular website is a reliable source for information.