Diphtheria

About Diphtheria: 

• It is a serious contagious bacterial infection of the nose and throat. 
• It is caused by strains of bacteria called Corynebacterium diphtheriae that make a toxin.
• Transmission:
  • It can spread from person to person, usually through respiratory droplets, like from coughing or sneezing. 
  • People can also get sick from touching infected open sores or ulcers.
• The bacteria can also infect the skin, causing open sores or ulcers. However, diphtheria skin infections rarely result in severe disease.
• Although diphtheria can be treated with medications, in advanced stages, the bacterial infection can damage the heart, kidneys and nervous system.
• Symptoms:
  • Typical symptoms of the infection include a sore throat, fever, swollen neck glands and weakness.
  • Within 2–3 from infection, the dead tissue in the respiratory tract forms a thick, grey coating that can cover tissues in the nose, tonsils and throat, making it hard to breathe and swallow.
• Treatments
  • neutralization of unbound toxin with Diphtheria Antitoxin (DAT)
  • antibiotics to prevent further bacterial growth;
  • monitoring and supportive care to prevent and treat complications, e.g. airway obstruction, myocarditis.

Q1: What are antibiotics?

Antibiotics are medicines that fight bacterial infections in people and animals. They work by killing the bacteria or by making it hard for the bacteria to grow and multiply.

Source: WHO team reaches Rajasthan’s Deeg after 7 children die of diphtheria in a month