MCQs on Bordetella spp, isolation and identification, diagnosis and treatment Figure: Bordetella pertussis colonies 1. A six months old child is brought to the emergency department by her parents. She has been experiencing a severe cough for the past two weeks, which has worsened recently. Her parents are concerned about her difficulty breathing and episodes of coughing fits. The child appears to be in moderate distress. She has been experiencing paroxysms of coughing, followed by a "whooping" sound as she tries to inhale. During coughing fits, she becomes cyanotic (turns blue) due to the struggle for breath. Her parents report that she hasn't had her routine vaccinations, including the DPT (diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus) vaccine. Upon examination, the child has mild fever (101°F) and mild tachypnea (increased respiratory ra...