Diphtheria

Diphtheria is an acute infectious disease caused by the bacterium Corynebacterium diphteriae. The bacterium causes inflammation of the upper respiratory tract, nose and throat, and produces toxins that can spread through the bloodstream to other parts of the body, such as the heart and the nerves and cause severe complications.

Diphteria is transmitted through direct contact with an infected person or through droplets that an infected person releases into the environment during coughing and sneezing. The incubation period (from the moment of infection to the first signs of the disease) is usually 2-5 days (could be 1 to 10 days).

Signs and symptoms of the disease

The bacterium causes inflammation of the nose, throat and tonsils and slightly elevated temperature. Within 2 to 3 days, bluish-white membranes of different sizes are formed on the tonsils, soft palate and pharynx. Similar changes can extend to the vocal cords when coughing, and hoarseness occur in addition to fever. These layers are firmly attached to the tissue, narrowing the airway and endanger breathing. The toxin that this bacterium creates is absorbed and spreads through the blood to diferent parts of the body and can lead to numerous complications.

Complications

The most common complications, which occur as a consequence of the action of diphtheria  toxins, are inflammation of the heart muscle and nerves. Heart complications include abnormal heart rates and heart failure. Nervous system involvement may cause abnormal level of consciousness and can lead to coma. The affected nerves can temporarily lose their function and paralysis occurs: of soft palate muscles, eye muscles, limb muscles, diaphragm, etc. These complications can be fatal and actually 20% of children younger than 5 years with diphteria die of this disease.

Treatment of diphtheria

During the treatment of diphtheria, antibiotics in the appropriate dose, antitoxin and general symptomatic support are used.

Prevention (protection) from diphtheria

Protection of children from diphtheria is provided by immunization. The diphtheria vaccine is given together with the vaccines against tetanus, whooping cough, polio and Hemophilus influenza B bacteria at the age of: 2 months, 3.5-4 months, 5-6 months and 12-18 months. Later doses are given together with the tetanus vaccine usually at school age according to the immunization schedule of each country.

Thanks to the successful vaccination of children, disease hasn’t been recorded in many countries, however, the infection still exists in some parts of the world and could be imported and therefore you need to protect your child.