Diphtheria

About Diphtheria 

• Diphtheria is an infectious disease caused by the bacterium Corynebacterium diphtheria.
• Diphtheria is a severe communicable and bacterial infectious disease that causes inflammation of the mucous membranes by forming a false membrane in the throat which creates a problem while swallowing food and during breathing.
• Currently, this syndrome is rare in developed countries. 
• This disease spreads easily from one person to another but can be prevented by the use of vaccines.

Symptoms of Diphtheria 

• The signs of diphtheria appear in a short period of time within three to five days after the infection has occurred. 

The most common symptom 

• Gray, thick covering on the tonsils and throat. 

Other usual symptoms include

• Fever.
• A loud cough.
• Swollen neck.
• A sore throat.
• Feeling discomfort.

If the infection prolongs, further symptoms may develop.

• Difficulty in swallowing.
• Slurred speech.
• Sweating.
• Rapid heartbeat.
• Redness and ulcers in the affected region.

Risk factors

People who are at increased risk of contracting diphtheria include

• Children and adults who don’t have up-to-date vaccinations
• People living in crowded or unsanitary conditions
• Anyone who travels to an area where diphtheria infections are more common

Complications

Left untreated, diphtheria can lead to:

• Breathing problems. 
• Heart damage. 
• Nerve damage. 

Prevention

• Today, the disease is not only treatable but also preventable with a vaccine.
• The diphtheria vaccine is usually combined with vaccines for tetanus and whooping cough (pertussis). 
• The three-in-one vaccine is known as the diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis vaccine. 
• The latest version of this vaccine is known as the DTaP vaccine for children and the Tdap vaccine for adolescents and adults.

Vaccination consists of a series of five shots, typically administered in the arm or thigh, given to children at these ages:

• 2 months
• 4 months
• 6 months
• 15 to 18 months
• 4 to 6 years