Whooping cough infection, illustration. Whooping cough is a respiratory tract infection caused by the bacterium Bordetella pertussis. The pertussis bacteria produce a toxin that paralyses the cilia (hair-like) on the surface of respiratory cells. This prevents the cilia from clearing mucus from the lungs, and so to compensate the body coughs. The coughing fits are followed by characteristic inspiratory whoops. There is a vaccine against the disease. | |
Licence : | Droits gérés |
Crédit: | Science Photo Library / Fuller, Nicolle R. |
Taille de l’image : | 4724 px × 2244 px |
Model Release : | Non requis |
Property Release : | Non requis |
Restrictions : | - |