List the three stages of pertussis, and provide some general c...

Question

List the three stages of pertussis, and provide some general characteristics of each stage.

Accepted Answer

Hello, everyone. Welcome back. Our next problem says, identify the incorrect statement about pertussis. A the first stage of pertussis called the taral stage lasts for 1 to 2 weeks. B the second stage of pertussis is the paroxysmal stage which can last for several weeks to months. So I see the third stage of pertussis is the convalescent stage which can last for several weeks or months for choice. D pertussis is a non contagious respiratory illness that typically progresses through three stages. So we're looking for an incorrect statement here about pertussis. Pertussis is also known as whooping cough. It's a bacterial illness caused by the bacterium borla pertussis. And usually when we have a question that's phrased as find the incorrect statement, I tend to just work through each of the statements one at a time, evaluating each one. However, when I'm looking at these statements, one thing that should jump to mind immediately is pertussis is one of our vaccine preventable diseases. We have a vaccine against it. So I would immediately be suspicious of choice. D pertussis is a non contagious respiratory illness because we usually don't vaccinate against non contagious diseases. Why would we you don't worry about them spreading through a population. And indeed, pertussis is highly contagious. It is generally not serious for um, older Children or adults, although very unpleasant, uh due to the extreme severity and length of the cough, but it's extremely dangerous for young infants who can't be vaccinated until they're two months old. So it can even still, even in this day and age with modern medical technology can be fatal for infants. Um So because that age range is so vulnerable and too young to be vaccinated. Given this highly contagious nature of the bacteria, we vaccinate our population to protect those most vulnerable infants as well as to prevent older Children and adults from having to suffer through a really unpleasant illness. It does typically progress through three stages. Each one is distinctive um with its own symptoms. So that's what our other three choices relate to, but it's definitely not non contagious. So choice D is going to be our answer. We'll just briefly look at our other answer choices to be thorough choice. A first stage called the Karal stage lasting for 1 to 2 weeks. Qatar is an old fashioned word for a cold. So this stage does resemble a cold with generally still sort of mild symptoms. It can cause a low fever, runny nose, mild cough at this point. Although in babies, it can cause a brief pauses in breathing. So this is correct statement. Therefore, not our answer. I'll put A T for true choice. B the second stage, the paroxysmal stage lasting for several weeks to months. Um This name comes from paroxysm like a paroxysm of coughing. And this is characterized by a violent uncontrollable cough, um, that leaves people trying to breathe at the end of a coughing fit. And as they struggle to breathe, they give this very characteristic whooping sound as they breathe in where you get the name whooping cough. And this is the dangerous phase um for infants as well as an extremely unpleasant phase for everybody else. And it can last for several weeks to month. And in fact, um an old fashioned name for this was the 100 day cough because it lasted so long. So choice B are also true statement. So not our answer. And then finally, H IC the third stage is the convalescent stage which can last for several weeks or months. During this stage. The patient is improving and getting better. They're starting to feel better and the coughing fits are getting, are lessening and getting less frequent. So this is another true statement and therefore not our answer. But you can see from this that this is an illness that really drags on for a really, really long time. But our incorrect statement about pertussis is choice D pertussis is a non contagious respiratory illness that typically progresses through three stages. Will see you next video.

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List the three stages of pertussis, and provide some general characteristics of each stage.

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