Diptheria
Diptheria Causes
The only cause of this disease is the Corynebacterium dephtheriae, a fascultatively anaerobic Gram positive bacteria. It is spread through direct contact like like touching and breathing the aerosolized secretions of the patient.
Diptheria Definition
Diptheria is a communicable disease of upper respiratory tract it is caused by an anaerobic Gram- positive bacterium called Corynebacterium diphtheriae. it is spread through direct contact. Vaccine of this bacteria is recommended for children after four weeks of birth, it has 3 dosage with 3 weeks interva. It also recommended to travellers. Incubation period of Diphtheria is from 2 to 5 days.
Diptheria Diagnosis
It is identify through the symptoms shows by the patient and it is compatible with the positve laboratory result of corynebacterium diphtheriae.
Diptheria Symptoms and Signs
Initial symptoms include fatigue,mild to high fever,chills, nausea and vomiting, a mild sore thraot and difficulty in swallowing. When the infection progresses and the bacteria released more toxins the patient may manifest listlessness, pallor, tachychardia, low blood pressure. If not treated earlier it will complicate to cardiomyopathy and peripheral neuropathy. Secondary infection also develop called cutaneous diphtheria infection that is form of skin ulcers.
Diptheria Treatment
Antimicrobial treatment is needed immediately like Erythromycin by orally or injection, penicillin gevin intramuscularly if the pateint is allergy with penicillin used erythromycin ,rifampicin or clindamycin as alternatives. the patient may experience difficulty of breathing and swallowing because of swelling of the lymph node in the neck, seek medical atention immediately. And also for tachycardia, it could lead to cardiac arrest.