Diphtheria
What
is it?
Diphtheria is an acute and highly contagious
bacterial infection that mainly affects the nose
and throat.
Who
gets it?
Children under 5 years old and adults over 60
are particularly at risk for contracting
diphtheria, as are those living in crowded or
unsanitary conditions, the undernourished, and
children and adults who do not have up-to-date
immunizations.
Diphtheria is rare in the United States
and Europe, where health officials have been
immunizing children against it for decades.
However, it is still common in developing
countries where immunizations are not given
routinely.
What
causes it?
The toxin, or poison, caused by the bacteria
can lead to a thick coating in the nose, throat,
or airway. This coating is usually fuzzy gray or
black and can cause breathing problems and
difficulty in swallowing.
What
are the symptoms?
In its early stages, diphtheria can be mistaken
for a bad sore throat. A low-grade fever and
swollen neck glands are the other early
symptoms.
In more advanced stages, the patient may have
difficulty breathing or swallowing, complain of
double vision, have slurred speech, or even show
signs of going into shock (pale, cold skin; rapid
heartbeat; sweating; and an anxious appearance).
How
is it diagnosed?
Children and adults with diphtheria are treated
in a hospital. After a doctor confirms the
diagnosis through throat culture and blood counts,
the infected person receives a special anti-toxin
to neutralize the diphtheria toxin already
circulating in the body, as well as antibiotics to
kill the remaining diphtheria bacteria. The
anti-toxin is given through injections or
intravenously. The patient is closely watched
while the anti-toxins are given because the
solution, which is made from horse serum (blood),
may cause an allergic reaction.
What
is the treatment?
If the infection is advanced, patients may need
mechanical assistance to breathe. In cases where
the toxins may have spread to the heart, kidneys,
or central nervous system, patients may need
intravenous fluids, oxygen, or cardiac
medications.
The patient must be isolated. Family members
who have not been immunized, or who are very young
or elderly, must be protected from contact with
the patient.
Your child's doctor will notify the local
health department and will take steps to treat
everyone in the household who may have been
exposed to the bacteria. This will include
assessment of immune status, throat cultures, and
booster doses of diphtheria vaccine. They will
also receive antibiotics as a precaution.
Self Care Tips
Preventing diphtheria depends almost completely
on immunizing children with the combined
diphtheria/tetanus/pertussis (DTP or DTaP) vaccine
and non-immunized adults with the
diphtheria/tetanus vaccine (DT). Most cases of
diphtheria occur in people who haven't received
the vaccine at all or haven't received the entire
course.
The immunization schedule calls for DTP or DTaP
vaccines at 2, 4, and 6 months of age, with
booster doses given at 12 to 18 months and then at
4 to 6 years. Booster shots should be given every
10 years after that to maintain protection.
This information has been designed as a comprehensive and quick reference
guide written by our health care reviewers. The health information written
by our authors is intended to be a supplement to the care provided by your
physician. It is not intended nor implied to be a substitute for
professional medical advice.
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