A contagious upper respiratory track sickness caused by bacteria is known as diphtheria. Corynebacterium diphtheriae is an aerobic, gram +ve bacteria which cause diphtheria. It is a transmittable disease disperses by instant physical contact or breathing the aerosolized secretions of effected individuals.
One most common form of diphtheria has largely been eradicated in developed countries through vaccination. It chiefly attacks the nose and throat. Children under 5 and elderly over 60 are particularly at high risk of the infection. In the past years, diphtheria can be mistaken for a bad sore throat. People living dense populated or unclean conditions, and children and adults who don’t have up-to-date immunizations are also at risk. Diphtheria is highly contagious.
Diphtheria is a bacterial transmission disease that spreads rapidly and occurs swiftly. Once infected, lethal substances generated by the bacteria can travel through your bloodstream to other organs, such as the heart, kidneys, brain etc and may cause considerable damage. The most known complication of diphtheria is inflammation of the cardiac muscles. Central nervous system is also frequently and highly affected which may result in temporary paralysis. If diphtheria prolonged or treated improperly, the bacteria start to produce a potent toxin that often causes serious, life threatening complications.
Symptoms of Diphtheria
Symptoms include fatigue, fever, a mild tender throat and problems in swallowing. Adverse effects of the diphtheria toxin include cardiomyopathy and peripheral neuropathy. Infected children have symptoms that include nausea, vomiting, chills, and a high fever. Sometime few patients do not show symptoms until the infection has progressed in its advance stage. These conditions are related to a higher risk of death. The patient may suffer more widespread symptoms, such as lethargy, paleness, and increased heart beat rate. These symptoms are caused due to the toxin released by the bacterium. The cutaneous form of diphtheria occurs normally in the presence of preexisting skin disease.
The disease may not harm, but in some most serious cases lymph nodes in the neck may swell, and make breathing and swallowing so hard.
Prevention of Diphtheria
Immunization for diphtheria has become part of child care for decades. This is the “D” in the “DPT” shots. Immunization of all infants and booster doses throughout life will prevent any revival of diphtheria.
Diphtheria vaccine consists of toxoid, which is a weakened form of the diphtheria toxin. It stimulates the human immune system to make antibodies against the corynebacterium diphtheriae toxin to protect against the disease. The immunity reduces with the passage of time so that a booster dose is needed after every ten years.
The toxoid available in two strengths, children younger than seven needs the high dose to develop immunity, above seven should get the low dose as it has fewer side effects and is strong enough to boost immunity.
Treatment of Diphtheria
If diphtheria is once diagnosed, diphtheria antitoxin is administered (either intravenously or by intramuscular injection). The antitoxin prevents damage caused by the bacterial toxin to the vital organs of body. Treatment of diphtheria starts with antitoxin although it is a bacterial infection. Antibiotics are given to prevent spread and treat the infection in second step.
Hospitalization is mostly required, as intravenous fluids, additional oxygen, bed rest, and careful monitoring of cardiac function are often necessary.
If the membrane of back part of the throat obstructs breathing, a tube gets passed through the mouth or nose. It happens only in very serious cases, where a tracheostomy (insertion of a breathing tube through a surgical opening in the throat) may be needed.
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