🦠 Diphtheria
Diphtheria is a serious bacterial infection caused by Corynebacterium diphtheriae. It primarily affects the nose, throat, and tonsils, but in severe cases, it can produce a toxin that damages the heart, nerves, and other organs.
📌 It is a vaccine-preventable disease but can be life-threatening if untreated.
🧬 Cause
- Caused by Corynebacterium diphtheriae
- Some strains produce a toxin that causes tissue damage
- Spread through:
- Respiratory droplets (coughing/sneezing)
- Contact with open sores or contaminated surfaces
⚠️ Symptoms
🔹 Respiratory Diphtheria (Most Common)
- Sore throat
- Low-grade fever
- Swollen neck (“bull neck”)
- Thick gray/white coating (pseudomembrane) in throat or nose
- Difficulty breathing or swallowing
- Hoarseness
🔹 Cutaneous Diphtheria
- Skin lesions or ulcers (common in tropical or poor hygiene settings)
🔹 Severe Complications
- Myocarditis (heart inflammation)
- Paralysis
- Kidney failure
- Respiratory failure (from airway obstruction)
- Death (5–10% fatality rate if untreated)
🧪 Diagnosis
- Throat swab culture for C. diphtheriae
- PCR testing to confirm toxin production
- Clinical suspicion is crucial for early treatment
💊 Treatment
✅ Immediate treatment is critical — even before test results.
- Diphtheria antitoxin (neutralizes circulating toxin)
- Given IV or IM
- Sourced from horses (requires allergy test)
- Antibiotics:
- Erythromycin or Penicillin
- Stops bacteria from spreading but does not reverse toxin damage
- Isolation:
- Prevents spread to others (until cultures are negative)
💉 Prevention
🔹 Vaccination (Highly Effective)
- DPT vaccine: Diphtheria, Pertussis, and Tetanus
- Schedule:
- Children: 5 doses (2, 4, 6, 15–18 months, and 4–6 years)
- Booster shots: Every 10 years (Td or Tdap)
🔹 Public Health Measures
- Treat and vaccinate close contacts
- Monitor and control outbreaks
🌍 Global Concern
- Rare in countries with routine immunization
- Still occurs in developing regions or areas with low vaccine coverage
- Outbreaks may happen in refugee camps, conflict zones, or under-immunized populations
✅ Key Points
- Diphtheria is highly contagious and potentially deadly
- Vaccine-preventable
- Needs rapid treatment with antitoxin and antibiotics
- Public health efforts are essential to control outbreaks