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Diphtheria is a rare infectious disease caused by bacteriaCorynebacterium diphtheriaewhich causes inflammation and respiratory tract injuries, and can also affect the skin, being more frequent in children between 1 and 4 years old, although it can happen at all ages.
This bacterium is capable of producing toxins that pass into the bloodstream and that can reach various parts of the body, but which generally affect the nose, throat, tongue and airways. More rarely, toxins can also affect other organs like the heart, brain or kidneys, for example.
Diphtheria can be easily transmitted from person to person by inhaling droplets that are suspended in the air when the person with diphtheria coughs or sneezes. It is important that the diagnosis is made as soon as the first symptoms appear, as it is thus possible to start the treatment according to the recommendation of the general practitioner or infectologist.
Diphtheria symptoms
Diphtheria symptoms can appear 2 to 5 days after contact with the bacteria and usually last up to 10 days, the main ones being:
- Formation of grayish plaques in the region of the tonsils;
- Inflammation and sore throat, especially when swallowing;
- Swelling of the neck with sore waters;
- High fever, above 38ºC;
- Runny nose with blood;
- Wounds and red spots on the skin;
- Bluish color on the skin due to lack of oxygen in the blood;
- Nausea and vomiting;
- Coryza;
- Headache;
- Difficulty breathing.
It is important that the person is taken to the nearest emergency room or hospital as soon as the first symptoms of diphtheria appear, as it is possible that tests can be done to confirm the diagnosis of the infection and, thus, start the most appropriate treatment, avoiding the worsening of the disease and transmission to other people.
How to confirm the diagnosis
Normally the diagnosis of diphtheria is initiated with a physical evaluation, made by the doctor, but tests can also be ordered to confirm the infection. Thus, it is common for the doctor to order a blood test and a throat secretion culture, which must come from one of the plaques present in the throat and must be collected by a trained professional.
The culture of the secretion of the throat aims to identify the presence of the bacteria and, when positive, an antibiogram is made to define which antibiotic is most suitable to treat the infection. Due to the bacteria's ability to spread quickly into the bloodstream, the doctor may request a blood culture to identify whether the infection has already reached the blood.
Diphtheria treatment
Treatment for diphtheria should always be guided by a doctor, who is usually the pediatrician, as it is a more common infection in children, although it can also be recommended by the general practitioner or infectious disease in some cases. Initially, treatment is done with an injection of diphtheria antitoxin, which is a substance capable of reducing the effect of toxins released by the diphtheria bacteria in the body, quickly improving symptoms and facilitating recovery.
However, treatment must still be complemented with:
- Antibiotics, usually Erythromycin or Penicillin: which can be administered in the form of pills or as an injection, for up to 14 days;
- Oxygen mask: used when breathing is affected by the inflammation of the throat, to increase the amount of oxygen in the body;
- Remedies for fever, such as Paracetamol: help to lower body temperature, relieving discomfort and headache.
In addition, it is very important that the person, or the child, with diphtheria stays at rest for at least 2 days, to facilitate recovery, in addition to drinking plenty of fluids during the day to keep the body well hydrated.
When there is a high risk of transmitting the disease to other people, or when the symptoms are very strong, the doctor may advise you to do the treatment while in hospital, and it may even happen that you stay in an isolation room, to avoid transmission of the bacteria.
How to prevent infection
The main way of preventing diphtheria is through vaccination, which, in addition to protecting against diphtheria, also protects against tetanus and pertussis. This vaccine should be applied in three doses, recommended at 2, 4 and 6 months, and should be boosted between 15 and 18 months and then between 4 and 5 months. Check out more details about the diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis vaccine.
If the person has come into contact with a patient with diphtheria, it is important to go to the hospital to administer the diphtheria antitoxin injection and, thus, prevent the worsening and transmission of the disease to other people. Despite being more common in children, adults who do not have the vaccine up to date against diphtheria or have a weakened immune system are more susceptible to infection byCorynebacterium diphtheriae.