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Diphtheria Overview: Symptoms, Causes, Treatment, and Prevention
Overview
Table of Contents
Diphtheria can be defined as a severe viral or bacterial infection of the nose and throat. Generally, the mucus membrane is affected here.
Vaccines are available and so as to treatment. It can simply be transmitted from person to person even though they don’t have any physical contact.
Diphtheria is easily preventable and one need not tp get too worried about this. However, if left untreated can damage your body organs like nerves, heart, and kidneys. The death rate is rare at approx. 2 percent.
Symptom for diphtheria include –
The signs start as soon as you get affected by the infection. However, symptoms may not be experienced by everyone. Therefore, they unknowingly become the cause of transmitting the disease to others also. Some of the signs through which you can detect diphtheria can be –
• Fever
• Chills
• Harness
• Discomfort
• Inflamed gland
• Blue skin
• Inability to breathe properly
• Nasal discharge
• Sore throat
• Often thirst
• Cough
• Restlessness or tiredness
• Headache
• Difficulty in swallowing foods
When to go for medical attention
Although is curable by medications, still you need to notice the symptoms before it’s too late and the disease gets fatal. Go to see your doctor if you face any of the above symptoms, especially the inability to swallow food and breathe.
Causes of diphtheria
The simple and the only causes of diphtheria can be –
• Inhaling C. Diphtheriae airborne droplets.
• Getting in physical or non – physical touch with infectious person. (Touching their things)
• Children not getting vaccination for diphtheria
• Residing in unhygienic areas
• Travelling in unsanitary areas
• Exposure to harmful toxins in the environment
Complications associates with diphtheria
In few people , diphtheria can lead to complications like –
• Nerve damage
• Kidney damage
• Heart failure
• Asthma
• Other breathing issues
Prevention steps to go for right now –
In many people , diphtheria come and go themselves only. But you must not wait for something to happen. Have vaccination for diphtheria . The Dtap vaccine in five shot include age group of –
• 2 months
• 4 months
• 6 months
• 15-18 months
• 4-6 years old
Booster shots are available for age 12 years.
* Remember to do regular breathing exercises
* Eat fiber-rich foods
* Stay in a clean and healthy environment Plant trees where you live
Myths created about diphtheria
Fact – its not necessary. It happened many years before when things were simple. But if you ignore diphtheria , it would be fatal for sure in future.
Fact – you still need vaccine as it can happen again to you. Infact , it get worsen on the second time.
Fact – according to the world health organization , every 1 out of 10 lose their life due to diphtheria.
Diagnosis
Diagnosis for diphtheria does not involve a lot of steps. They firstly do physical test to check the swollen and enlarged nodes. Then ,They study the sample of the sore throat saliva to diagnose your diphtheria. No blood or urine test is required for this.
Treatment –
Treatments for diphtheria is not delayed by doctors after the diagnosis. They may provide the following –
Antitoxin medication is best for prevention and control over diphtheria. It is not in tablet form and are injected on the skin.
Erythromycin and penicillin general suggestions to get rid of the infection fast. It clear the nasal passage and throat making you feel better.
All the suggestions are provided on the basis of personal researches and studies. Please consult doctor before taking any further step on your own.
Frequently asked questions –
Answer – yes , diphtheria is a contagious disease.
Answer – the smell is generally odor. However , you may experience stale or sweet taste.
Answer – diphtheria reproduce by transmit through one person to another.
Answer – yes , cases have came across where the same person get affected by diphtheria twice.
Answer – yes , the vaccine ensure to reduce the risk factor but not guarantee life time immunity.
Answer – vaccine do not cause any internal damage in your body. However , you may experience normal swollen skin where you have been vaccinated , fever or restlessness for a day.
