A nurse is caring for a child who is suspected of having pertussis. The nurse should recognize that the pathophysiology of pertussis includes which of the following?

A. Pertussis primarily affects the respiratory tract rather than just the nostrils. B. Pertussis is caused by the bacterium Bordetella pertussis, making it a bacterial infection, not viral. C. The bacteria release toxins that damage the cilia of the epithelial cells in the respiratory tract, disrupting their function. D. Inflammation occurs in the lungs and airway due to the infection, contributing to symptoms such as cough. E. The infection leads to excessive secretions that are difficult to expel, resulting in the characteristic whooping cough associated with pertussis.