Discover the Symptoms and Treatment Options for Diphtheria, a highly contagious bacterial infection. Learn about the signs to watch out for and the recommended treatment approaches to effectively combat this serious respiratory disease.
What is diphtheria?
Diphtheria is a contagious infection caused by a bacterium called Corynebacterium diphtheria. The bacterium releases a toxin that causes a buildup of gray tissue in the throat, causing problems with swallowing and breathing.
In warmer climates, someone with diphtheria may also develop skin sores that don’t heal and may be covered by gray tissue. This type of diphtheria (called cutaneous diphtheria) also sometimes occurs in the United States when people live in crowded, unhealthy conditions.
Symptoms of diphtheria
Symptoms of diphtheria may include:
- rhinorrhea
- severe sore throat
- fever
- general feeling of being unwell (malaise)
- swollen lymph nodes in the throat
- a gray or black hairy coating on the membranes of the throa made up of bacteria and dead cells
breathing problems - swallowing problems.
Diphtheria and skin infection
Sometimes, diphtheria causes a skin infection. The wound is painful, inflamed, and filled with pus and may be surrounded by patches of grayish skin. This condition is known as cutaneous diphtheria. It is quite rare in developed countries.
Complications of diphtheria
Without treatment, extremely serious and life-threatening complications of diphtheria can include:
- suffocation, as the abnormal throat membrane hinders breathing
- heart damage, including inflammation (myocarditis) or congestive heart failure
- damage to the kidneys
- nerve damage, resulting in health problems depending on which nerves are affected.
How diphtheria spreads
Diphtheria is most commonly spread when someone ingests (swallows) or inhales droplets from an infected person’s cough or sneeze. Symptoms appear between two and ten days after infection.
Sometimes, a person has such a mild case of diphtheria that they don’t realize they are sick. However, they are still contagious for about six weeks and can infect many other people. A healthy person who spreads an infectious disease is called a “carrier”.
Diphtheria – high-risk groups
Diphtheria is very rare in Australia. People at increased risk of diphtheria include:
• unimmunized or incompletely immunized people exposed to a person infected with diphtheria
• people who have immune system problems
• people living in unsanitary and crowded conditions
travelers to particular areas known to harbor diphtheria such as Southeast Asia, Russia and surrounding countries, the Baltics, and Eastern European countries.
Diagnosis of diphtheria
Tests used to diagnose diphtheria may include:
• medical history including immunization status
• story of the trip
• physical exam
Throat (or wound) swabs for laboratory tests.
What are the different types of diphtheria?
There are two main types of diphtheria, the classic respiratory one and the cutaneous one:
Classical respiratory diphtheria: The most common type of diphtheria, classical respiratory diphtheria, can affect the nose, throat, tonsils, or larynx (voice box). Symptoms may vary depending on where the affected membranes are located in the body. Some people call this condition pharyngeal diphtheria (diphtheria of the throat).
Cutaneous diphtheria: The rarest type of diphtheria, cutaneous diphtheria is characterized by skin rashes, sores, or blisters, which can appear anywhere on the body. Cutaneous diphtheria is more common in tropical climates or crowded places where people live in unhealthy conditions.
How do you get diphtheria?
You can get diphtheria through airborne droplets that contain bacteria (spread through sneezing, coughing, and spitting) or by touching something that contains bacteria. It is also possible that an infected person can transmit the disease through an open wound touched by someone else or by touching clothing touched by someone else. It is possible to contract diphtheria more than once.
Treatment Options for Diphtheria?
Diphtheria is a serious disease. Doctors treat him immediately and aggressively. Doctors first make sure the airway is not blocked or narrowed. In some cases, you may need to place a breathing tube in your throat to keep the airway open until the airway is less inflamed.
Antibiotics. Antibiotics, such as penicillin or erythromycin, help kill bacteria in the body, eliminating infections. Antibiotics reduce the time that someone with diphtheria is contagious.
An antitoxin. If a doctor suspects diphtheria, he or she will request a medication that counteracts the diphtheria toxin in the body. This drug comes from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Called an antitoxin, this drug is injected into a vein or muscle.
Before giving an antitoxin, doctors may perform skin allergy tests. These are done to make sure that the infected person does not have an allergy to the antitoxin. If someone has an allergy, their doctor will likely advise them not to take the antitoxin.
Children and adults with diphtheria often require hospitalization for treatment. They may be isolated in an intensive care unit because diphtheria can spread easily to anyone who is not vaccinated against the disease.
Preventive treatments
If you have been in contact with a person infected with diphtheria, see a doctor for testing and possible treatment. Your doctor may prescribe antibiotics to help prevent the disease from developing. You may also need a booster dose of the diphtheria vaccine.
People found to be carriers of diphtheria are treated with antibiotics to eliminate the bacteria from their bodies as well.
What are the treatment options for diphtheria?
Antibiotics recommended for respiratory or cutaneous diphtheria are erythromycin or penicillin.
What is diphtheria describe symptoms with treatment.
The bacteria most commonly infect the nose and throat. The throat infection causes a gray to black, hard, fiber-like coating that can block the airway. In some cases, diphtheria first infects the skin and causes skin lesions. Once infected, the bacteria produce dangerous substances called toxins.
What is the specific treatment of diphtheria?
Treatment of diphtheria involves: Using diphtheria antitoxin to prevent the bacterial toxin from harming the body. This treatment is very important for diphtheria respiratory infections but is rarely used for diphtheria skin infections. Using antibiotics to kill and eliminate bacteria.
What was the first treatment for diphtheria?
Tracheotomy and tracheal intubation
Pierre-Fidèle Bretonneau – who introduced the term diphtheria in 1817 – is usually credited with documenting the first successful use of the tracheotomy to relieve laryngeal obstruction caused by the disease.
How long does treatment for diphtheria last?
In the case of close contacts who have had recent exposure to diphtheria, management includes close surveillance for any respiratory or skin symptoms. Patients should be kept in isolation, swabs taken for culture, and erythromycin used for 7 to 10 days.
What is the treatment of class 12 diphtheria?
Antitoxin injection is the first step in treating diphtheria. This injection can be used to reduce the toxic effect produced by the bacteria. Doctors also prescribe antibiotics as a treatment for diphtheria, including penicillin and erythromycin, which help clear the infection.
What are the three symptoms of diphtheria?
Symptoms of diphtheria
a thick gray-white coating that can cover the back of the throat, nose, and tongue. high fever and sore throat. swollen glands in the neck.
What are the symptoms and treatment options for diphtheria?
- A thick gray membrane covers the throat and tonsils.
- Sore throat and hoarseness.
- Swollen glands (swollen lymph nodes) in the neck.
- Difficulty breathing or rapid breathing.
- Nasal discharge.
- Fever and chills.
- Tiredness.