Related Experiment Videos
Pertussis in an elderly Asian-American man: a case report
Jordan Spector1, Niels K Rathlev
1Department of Emergency Medicine, Boston Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
Abstract:
Cough is a frequent presenting complaint in the Emergency Department. The differential diagnosis for cough is variable depending on patient age and symptom duration. We report the case of an elderly gentleman with a history of asthma who presented with cough, with the ultimate diagnosis of Bordetella pertussis infection. The management of the patient in the Emergency Department placed hospital staff at risk for infection from a virulent pathogen. Details regarding typical and atypical presentations of pertussis and the establishment of transmission-based precautions are discussed.
Related Concept Videos
Pneumonia III: Complications and Assessment
Pulmonary Tuberculosis V
Latent tuberculosis infection occurs when TB bacteria are present in a person's body, but are not causing illness or symptoms. It is not contagious, and preventive treatment is crucial to avoid the progression...
Transmission-based Precautions II: Airborne and Protective Environment
Airborne precautions:
Use airborne precautions when treating patients known or suspected to have diseases that spread through the air—for example, tuberculosis or measles. These organisms are present in smaller droplets expelled by an infected person and...
Atypical Pneumonia
Pulmonary Tuberculosis I
Causative Organism
The primary infectious agent causing tuberculosis is Mycobacterium tuberculosis, a slow-growing, acid-fast, aerobic rod that exhibits sensitivity to heat and ultraviolet light. Instances of Mycobacterium bovis and Mycobacterium avium contributing to the development of TB infection are rare.
Mode of...
Pneumonia I: Introduction
Risk Factors
Various factors influence the likelihood of developing pneumonia. Age plays a crucial role, with infants, children under two, and individuals over 65 at increased risk due to their...