| ID | 300 |
|---|---|
| Name | ACUTE DIPHTHERIA (Pharyngeal & Laryngeal) Please see in the section of Infection and infections diseases |
| Cause | Diphtheria is a serious infection caused by strains of bacteria called Corynebacterium diphtheriae that make a toxin |
| Signs Symptoms | Fever and chills. Sore throat, hoarseness. Painful swallowing. Croup-like (barking) cough. Drooling (suggests airway blockage is about to occur) Bluish coloration of the skin. Bloody, watery drainage from nose. Breathing problems, including difficulty breathing, fast breathing, high-pitched breathing sound (stridor) |
| Diagnosis | Diagnosis of diphtheria is confirmed by isolating C |
| Investigations | Growth of C. diphtheriae in a lab culture of material from the throat membrane |
| Management | Diphtheria is a serious illness. Doctors treat it immediately and aggressively. Doctors first ensure that the airway isn't blocked or reduced. In some cases, they may need to place a breathing tube in the throat to keep the airway open until the airway is less inflamed. Treatments include: Antibiotics. Antibiotics, such as penicillin or erythromycin, help kill bacteria in the body, clearing up infections. Antibiotics lessen the time that someone with diphtheria is contagious. An antitoxin. If a doctor suspects diphtheria, he or she will request a medication that counteracts the diphtheria toxin in the body. This medication comes from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Called an antitoxin, this drug is injected into a vein or muscle. Before giving an antitoxin, doctors may perform skin allergy tests. These are done to make sure that the infected person doesn't have an allergy to the antitoxin. If someone has an allergy, the doctor will likely recommend that he or she not get the antitoxin. Children and adults who have diphtheria often need to be in the hospital for treatment. They may be isolated in an intensive care unit because diphtheria can spread easily to anyone not vaccinated against the disease. Preventive treatments If you've been exposed to a person infected with diphtheria, see a doctor for testing and possible treatment. Your doctor may give you a prescription for antibiotics to help prevent you from developing the disease. You may also need a booster dose of the diphtheria vaccine. People found to be carriers of diphtheria are treated with antibiotics to clear their systems of the bacteria as well. |
| Introduction | Diphtheria is an acute, bacterial disease caused by toxin-producing strains of Corynebacterium diphtheriae. Infection can result in respiratory or non-respiratory disease, such as cutaneous infections. |
| History | |
| Etiology | Diphtheria is a serious infection caused by strains of bacteria called Corynebacterium diphtheriae that make a toxin |
| Clinical Features | Fever and chills. Sore throat, hoarseness. Painful swallowing. Croup-like (barking) cough. Drooling (suggests airway blockage is about to occur) Bluish coloration of the skin. Bloody, watery drainage from nose. Breathing problems, including difficulty breathing, fast breathing, high-pitched breathing sound (stridor) |
| Preventions | 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. |
| Treatment | Diphtheria is a serious illness. Doctors treat it immediately and aggressively. Doctors first ensure that the airway isn't blocked or reduced. In some cases, they may need to place a breathing tube in the throat to keep the airway open until the airway is less inflamed. Treatments include: Antibiotics. Antibiotics, such as penicillin or erythromycin, help kill bacteria in the body, clearing up infections. Antibiotics lessen the time that someone with diphtheria is contagious. An antitoxin. If a doctor suspects diphtheria, he or she will request a medication that counteracts the diphtheria toxin in the body. This medication comes from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Called an antitoxin, this drug is injected into a vein or muscle. Before giving an antitoxin, doctors may perform skin allergy tests. These are done to make sure that the infected person doesn't have an allergy to the antitoxin. If someone has an allergy, the doctor will likely recommend that he or she not get the antitoxin. Children and adults who have diphtheria often need to be in the hospital for treatment. They may be isolated in an intensive care unit because diphtheria can spread easily to anyone not vaccinated against the disease. Preventive treatments If you've been exposed to a person infected with diphtheria, see a doctor for testing and possible treatment. Your doctor may give you a prescription for antibiotics to help prevent you from developing the disease. You may also need a booster dose of the diphtheria vaccine. People found to be carriers of diphtheria are treated with antibiotics to clear their systems of the bacteria as well. |
| Complications | Most complications of respiratory diphtheria, including death, are attributable to effects of the toxin. The most frequent complications of respiratory diphtheria are myocarditis and neuritis. Other complications include otitis media and respiratory insufficiency due to airway obstruction, especially in infants. |
| Prognosis | The overall case-fatality rate is 5–10%, with higher death rates (up to 20%) in those younger than 5 years of age. |
| Types | There are two main types of diphtheria, including classical respiratory and cutaneous: Classical respiratory diphtheria: The most common type of diphtheria, classical respiratory diphtheria may affect your nose, throat, tonsils or larynx (voice box) |
| Classification | |
| Observation | |
| Pathology | Diphtheria is an acute, communicable disease caused by Corynebacterium diphtheriae. The disease is generally characterized by local growth of the bacterium in the pharynx with pseudomembrane formation or, less commonly, in the stomach or lungs; systemic dissemination of toxin then invokes lesions in distant organs. |
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