About Biology(Disease)

That's easy la.

It's Pertussis or commonly called, Whooping Cough, because of the whooping sound.

What is whooping cough?

Whooping cough (pertussis) is a highly contagious bacterial infection of the upper respiratory system—specifically, the area where the nasal passages meet the back of the throat (nasopharynx). The infection causes irritation in breathing passages, resulting in severe coughing spells. The illness can have three distinct stages and can last months.

Complications like pneumonia can result from whooping cough. These kinds of problems can be very serious in young children, especially babies who are born early or who have not been immunized. Older adults are also more likely than other people to have problems caused by whooping cough.

What causes whooping cough?

Whooping cough is caused by infection with Bordetella pertussis or B. parapertussis bacteria. The infection easily spreads from person to person through respiratory secretions or mucus, which can be emitted during coughing or sneezing. The incubation period is about 7 to 14 days, meaning that symptoms start about 1 to 2 weeks after exposure to the bacteria.

Getting immunized helps prevent whooping cough infection and the spread of the disease. The whooping cough vaccine is recommended for children, adolescents, and adults. Routine immunization especially helps babies, older adults, and others who are at high risk for problems caused by whooping cough. Caregivers who never got immunized—and may not even know that they have the illness—can spread whooping cough to babies and other people who aren’t immunized.

Go here to learn more:

http://health.yahoo.com/flu-overview/what-is-whooping-cough/healthwise--hw65655.html



2009-03-15 12:38:36 補充：
百日咳 = Whooping Cough

http://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E7%99%BE%E6%97%A5%E5%92%B3