Diphtheria – What is it, Symptoms and Treatment!
Diphtheria – What it is, Symptoms and Treatment that everyone should be aware of. In addition, Diphtheria (or croup) is an infectious disease caused by the toxin of the bacillus Corynebacterium diphiteriae, which causes inflammation of the lining of the throat, nose and sometimes the trachea and bronchi.
It creates a grayish-white pseudomembrane at the back of the mouth, which covers the tonsils and makes breathing difficult or even impossible. So, check out all about Diphtheria – What it is, Symptoms and Treatment:
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What is Diphtheria: Diphtheria isan infection caused by the bacterium Corynebacterium diphtheriae, transmitted from person to person through physical and respiratory contact. It often forms yellowish patches on the tonsils, larynx and nose. In more severe cases, severe swelling in the neck with enlarged lymph nodes may occur. This can lead to difficulty breathing or complete blockage of breathing.
Symptoms of Diphtheria: Diphtheria (croup) is an acute bacterial disease, whose characteristic lesions are adherent gray-white membranes, surrounded by an inflammatory process that invades neighboring structures, most often located in the tonsils, larynx and nose.
The disease compromises the general condition of the patient, who presents fever, tiredness and pallor. There is mild sore throat. In more severe cases, there may be intense swelling in the neck, an increase in lymph nodes in the region and even acute mechanical asphyxia due to the obstruction caused by the plaque.
- cough ;
- Fever between 38 and 40 degrees;
- Soreness and inflammation in the throat ;
- Hoarseness ;
- Headache ;
- Paralysis of the neck, throat;
- Toxemia;
- Wheezing in the chest when breathing;
- Pain and difficulty swallowing;
- Eye palsy ;
- malaise ;
- catarrh;
- Paralysis of the muscles of the respiratory system;
- Red spots on the skin ;
- Appearance of grayish pseudomembranous plaques on the tonsils;
- fatigue ;
- Prostration;
- Nasal discharge;
- nausea ;
- Mechanical asphyxia.
Causes and Transmission of Diphtheria: The disease is transmitted by the bacterium Corynebacterium diphtheriae, which lodges in the infected patient. The places most affected by the bacteria are the respiratory tract and the skin.
The disease is transmitted through droplets of respiratory secretion, with sneezing, coughing or even during conversations, and can also occur through the consumption of raw milk.
It takes between 1 and 6 days for the first symptoms to appear. A person who is already infected can transmit the disease for up to 15 days after first contacting Diphtheria . After the treatment is done, the bacteria can be dormant in the body for 6 months or more.
Disease progression takes place over an incubation period of between 3 and 5 days. Bacteria colonize the tonsils and pharynx, causing pseudomembranous plaques on the tonsils. Infection with pus can still happen in the nose and conjunctiva ( eye mucosa ).
Prevention of Diphtheria: Diphtheria canaffect susceptible people (not adequately vaccinated) of any age and not just children as was more common before the systematic use of the vaccine. The only effective way to prevent Diphtheria is vaccination, as the disease, in general, does not confer permanent immunity, which means that the patient must continue his vaccination schedule after hospital discharge.
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Preschool-age children are the most susceptible group when not previously immunized with the basic regimen of the combined DTP and Hib vaccine. The basic childhood vaccination schedule is done with three doses of the vaccine against DTP and Hib, at two, four and six months of age. The first booster is done with DTP at 15 months and the other between four and six years of age.