Diphtheria symptoms, diagnostics – Diphtheria treatment – Vaccination against diphtheria for children and adults

Diphtheria

Diphtheria is a brief description

Diphtheria is a life-threatening infection, which is contagious and quickly spread. Diphtheria is caused by bacteria. The infection most commonly affects the tonsils, throat and nose.

Diphtheria patient requires emergency care and care doctor. Not every patient with diphtheria symptoms of the disease, so these patients can infect healthy people. The sooner treatment begins diphtheria, the better the result will be.

Causes of Diphtheria – cause of the disease diphtheria

Diphtheria is a bacterium Corynebacterium diphtheriae. The infection spreads from person to person through contact:

• Droplets of moisture, when an infected person coughs or sneezes, a healthy person inhales the infected particles;
• Paraphernalia, such as clothing or glasses, are used in conjunction with an infected person;
• Skin, infected with diphtheria.

Risk factors for infection with diphtheria

Factors, that increase the likelihood of being infected with diphtheria, They include:

• Lack of vaccination against diphtheria;
• Lack of catch-up vaccination against diphtheria for the past ten years;
• Weak immune system.

Diphtheria symptoms – Diphtheria throat symptoms

Signs and symptoms of diphtheria usually begin in the area of 2 to 5 days of human infection. The most obvious sign of diphtheria is a gray powder on the back of the throat. Plaque can detach and block the airway. If untreated, the bacteria can produce a toxin, which is distributed throughout the body, causing damage to the heart, nerves, kidney.

Symptoms include diphtheria:

• Sore throat and pain when swallowing;
• Fever up 39,5 ° C;
• Grey coating on the back of the throat;
• Cough, perhaps, barking cough;
• Swollen glands in the neck;
• Labored breathing;
• Difficulty weight management;
• Weakness;
• Skin infections.

Laboratory diagnosis of diphtheria – Diphtheria clinic diagnosis

The doctor will ask about your symptoms and medical history, and perform a physical examination. Diphtheria is suspected, if the throat and tonsils are covered with gray bloom.

The doctor may need to confirm the diagnosis. This can be done by collecting on the swab culture disease or tissue sample and its investigation.

Diphtheria treatment – Diphtheria antibiotics

If your doctor suspects diphtheria, Treatment starts immediately, before, We are received lab results. Treatment options include diphtheria:

• Injection antidiphtheria antitoxin;
• Taking antibiotics against diphtheria;
• Isolation and bed rest patient with diphtheria.

Prevention of diphtheria – Specific prophylaxis of diphtheria

The vaccine for diphtheria is safe and effective means of preventing the disease. All children, with some exceptions, You should be vaccinated with DTaP, which protects against diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis. Another vaccine, It called Tdap, is introduced to children 11-12 years after the DTaP vaccine inoculation. Adults need the vaccine get vaccinated against tetanus and diphtheria (Td) every 10 years, or in some cases after exposure tetanus.

If you or your child has not been fully vaccinated, or time, Consult your doctor about vaccination catch-up.