I'm a bit behind this week entirely because I was waiting to insert these pics/gifs. You're welcome.
TIL: Burkholderia cepacia is a nasty bacterium that causes infection in the lungs of vulnerable patients, especially those with cystic fibrosis. Cystic fibrosis causes dangerously thick and abundant mucus secretions which can block the airways of the lungs. The lungs can't clear the blockages and opportunistic bacteria thrive in the moist tissue behind the mucus plugs, causing all manner of havoc. B. cepacia is very resilient and can be a life altering infection for CF patients. Fear of this infection is so great that affected patients may be shunned from CF support groups because its so dangerous to the other CF patients.
Bronchiolitis obliterans organizing pneumonia is my favorite disease of this respiratory block thanks to its wonderful abbreviation, BOOP. Hopefully, no one has ever been told by a barely straight-faced doctor, "After reviewing the tests, we think that you can be diagnosed with... [suddenly the doctor's voice jumps up by an octave] BOOP!" Bronchiolitis obliterans can actually be a very severe condition marked by the gradual occlusion of terminal bronchioles by fibrotic inflammatory tissue. But thanks to the internet, all I can think of when it's brought up is:
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