What is diphtheria? What are the causes and symptoms of diphtheria? How is the treatment for diphtheria? The answers to these questions can be found in the article.
Content
a bacterial infection, which is the main clinical manifestations are due to
diphtheria toxin. Diphtheria affects the nose, throat and sometimes the skin, but in a more
serious cases can also spread to the heart, kidneys, and nervous system. Widespread use of DTP
vaccine in the post-war years, many countries have virtually eliminated the cases
diphtheria and tetanus, and significantly reduced the number of cases of pertussis.
However,
the first half of the 90s there was a diphtheria epidemic in Russia, the cause
which was insufficient vaccination coverage of children and adults. Thousands of people
died from the disease, which could be prevented by vaccination.
What are the causes and symptoms of diphtheria
Diphtheria - a bacterium,
known as diphtheria toxin.
exotoxin produced
toxigenic strains of Corynebacterium diphtheridae, which get into the bloodstream and
cause the destruction of tissue in the infected area, usually in the nasal cavity and
mouth. The current severe disease, there is often a strong intoxication
organism, throat and respiratory tract inflammation. Furthermore, in the absence of
timely treatment of diphtheria is fraught with serious complications - swelling of the throat
and respiratory failure, the defeat of the heart and kidneys, nervous system.
Diphtheria is transmitted
by droplet infection from patients or from healthy diphtheria
bacillicarriers, in rare cases - through infected objects (eg,
clothes, toys or dishes).
Diphtheria proceeds differently,
however, the following symptoms are observed in all cases:
Discharge from the nose, as inrhinitis
symptom is quite rare)
knots
diphtheria Treatment
Diphtheria Treatment at an early stage
provides complete recovery without any complications, although
Duration of cure depends on the severity of the infection. Without
early treatment can result in serious complications, including heart,
which can lead to coma, paralysis, or even death.
If you suspect or diphtheria
the diagnosis of infectious diseases is performed emergency
hospitalization as a patient requires bed rest and careful
nursing care. Particular attention should be paid to nutrition, fluid intake,
prevention of hypoxia.
To kill bacteria patient
prescribe antibiotics, as well as being vaccinated for the prevention of diphtheria
in future.
The main and most effective
way to prevent diphtheria - vaccinations. The vaccine against diphtheria (toxoids)
administered in a single dose intramuscular young children and pre-school age,
older children and adults can be administered deep subcutaneously. secondary injection
toxoids administered to school-age children, and repeated it in 10 years when
children leave school (ie 16 - 18 years).
