Bordetella pertussis causes

Options

A. Whooping cough
B. Meningitis
C. Influenza
D. Pneumonia.

Answer

**Step-by-Step Solution:**

1. **Identify the Causative Agent**: The question asks about Bordetella pertussis, which is a bacterium.

2. **Understand the Disease Caused**: Bordetella pertussis is known to cause whooping cough, which is also referred to as pertussis.

3. **Recognize the Symptoms**: Whooping cough is characterized by severe coughing fits that can lead to a high-pitched "whoop" sound during inhalation. Initial symptoms resemble those of a common cold, including runny nose, nasal congestion, red watery eyes, and fever.

4. **Transmission and Contagiousness**: This disease is highly contagious and can easily spread from one person to another.

5. **Incubation Period**: The incubation period for whooping cough is approximately 7 to 10 days, meaning symptoms will appear within this timeframe after exposure to the bacterium.

6. **Progression of Symptoms**: After the initial cold-like symptoms, the condition can worsen, leading to uncontrollable coughing, thick mucus accumulation in the airways, and potentially severe complications such as vomiting and respiratory distress.

7. **Conclusion**: Based on the information, the correct answer to the question is that Bordetella pertussis causes whooping cough.

**Final Answer**: Bordetella pertussis causes whooping cough.

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