Question | Answer |
Classic symptoms of pertussis in children | Spasms of productive coughing followed by characteristic whoop (paraxysmal cough) cyanosis, vomiting, convulsions, death |
Classic symptoms of pertussis is adults | Mild respiratory symptoms ("100 day cough") |
Pertussis is spread by | Droplet nuclei released by coughing of infected individuals |
Pertussis cases dropped after WWII due to the | DTP vaccination |
Why is pertussis on the rise now? | It isn't, the labs are just getting better at detecting it |
Bordetella pertusis characteristics | Small, Gram neg, coccobacilli, Catalase positive, oxidase positive, nonmotile, aerobes |
Virulence factors produced by Bordatella pertusis | Pertussis toxin, Adenylate cyclase toxin/hemolysin, Tracheal cytotoxin, Endotoxin |
Pertussis toxin does what | Impairs neutrophyl chemotaxis, lymphocyte promoting factor and activates insulin |
Adenylate cyclase toxin/hymolysin does what | Causes ATP to cAMP which causes lysis of RBC's and increases capillary permeability |
Tracheal cytotoxin kills | Ciliated epithelial cells |
Endotoxin does what | Elicits fever, activates complement, activates macrophages, etc. |
An infection is initiated when Bordetella pertussis binds to | Ciliated epithelial cells which eventually die due to interference in ciliary activity |
Three stages of Pertussis | Catarrhal, paraxysmal, convalescent |
In which phase in Pertussis most communicable? | Catarrhal |
Which phase presents with relatively nonspecific sympots of rhinorrhea, malaise, and mild fever with a dry, nonproductive cough | Cararrhal |
How long does the Paroxysmal phase normally last | 4-6 weeks |
tThe white blood cell count in the Paroxysmal phase is | Very high (>40,000) due to lymphocytosis |
Collection of Pertussis is done by | Inserting tiny nasal prob swab to the posterior nasopharynx |
Which medium is used to isolate pertussis | Regan-Lowe medium |
Pertussis colonies appear | Shiny, white-gray, slow growing (48-72 hours) |
Pertussis is ID with | Fluorescent antibody stains |
Treatment of pertussis in the catarrhal stage | Azithromycin |
Is treatment effective when given during or after the paroxysmal stage? | No |
What is the Tdap shot? | Tdap shot is formulated for adolescents and adults and recommended by CDC in 2005. Tdap has a reduced diphtheria toxoid formulation. |