Diphtheria - Symptoms & Treatment

Diphtheria is a very contagious and potentially life-threatening bacterial disease. Diphtheria is caused by Corynebacterium diphtheriae. Diphtheria spreads from person to person very easily. People get diphtheria by breathing in diphtheria bacteria after an infected person has coughed or sneezed.Diphtheria is common in many parts of the world. Diphtheria bacteria live in the mouth, nose, throat, or skin of infected persons. Diphtheria typically causes a bad sore throat, fever, swollen glands and weakness. But the hallmark sign is a thick, gray covering in the back of your throat that can make breathing difficult. Diphtheria can also infect your skin. Corynebacteria are Gram-positive, aerobic, nonmotile, rod-shaped bacteria related to the Actinomycetes. The bacterium produces a toxin (poison) that is carried in the bloodstream. Diphtheria is a very contagious and potentially life-threatening infection that usually attacks the throat and nose.

Diphtheria develops in the throat. Main symptoms are a sore throat and mild fever. Risk factors include crowded environments, poor hygiene, and lack of immunization. Membrane that forms over the throat and tonsils can make it hard to swallow. The health care provider will perform a physical exam and look inside your mouth. This may reveal a gray-to-black covering (pseudomembrane) in the throat, enlarged lymph glands, and swelling of the neck or larynx. The infection also causes the lymph glands and tissue on both sides of the neck to swell to an unusually large size. Some people can be infected but not appear ill. They can also spread the infection. Diphtheria is very rare in the United States. Some people are not adequately vaccinated, and cases still occur.

Causes of Diphtheria

Common causes of Diphtheria

Bacterium(Corynebacterium diphtheriae).
Skin lesions.
Inflammation of the heart

Symptoms of Diphtheria

Common Symptoms of Diphtheria

Fatigue.
Swallowing.
Nausea.
Vomiting.
Chills.
High fever.
Malaise.
Drooling.
Low blood pressure

Treatment of Diphtheria

Common Treatment of Diphtheria

Diphtheria is also treated with antibiotics(penicillin or erythromycin). Antibiotics help kill bacteria in the body, clearing up infections. Antibiotics reduce to just a few days the length of time that a person with diphtheria is contagious.
Antitoxin neutralizes the diphtheria toxin already circulating in your body. The antitoxin is injected into a vein (intravenously) or into a muscle (intramuscular injection).
Diphtheria vaccine is usually combined with vaccines for tetanus and whooping cough (pertussis).
Procaine penicillin G given intramuscularly for 14 days.
Tetanus-diphtheria (Td) vaccine is given by injection, usually into the arm or thigh.

Infectious Disease

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