Diphtheria – causes, symptoms & therapy

Diphtheria

Diphtheria is a contagious infectious disease of the upper respiratory tract. If left untreated, the disease can become life-threatening or lead to long-term effects. Diphtheria is one of the diseases that could be strongly pushed back. However, it has not yet been completely eradicated, as was the case with smallpox, for example.

What is diphtheria?

Diphtheria is an acute infectious disease that can initially affect mostly the throat, throat and trachea. The disease is triggered by the toxin-forming bacterium “Carynebacterium diphtheriae”. The disease occurs exclusively in humans. The pathogens detected in dogs and cats only lead to diphtheria-like diseases.

The best-known and most common form of the disease is pharyngeal diphtheria, but other forms such as nasal diphtheria or conjunctival diphtheria are also known.

causes

Diphtheria is caused by a special bacterium that penetrates the body and forms a poison there. This toxin penetrates the cells and affects the stability of the cell membranes, with the result that the relevant cells are disturbed or, in the worst case, killed.Since the poison is transported in the bloodstream, it not only acts directly on the inflamed area, but can also damage internal organs, which can lead to life-threatening situations or long-term consequences.

Diphtheria is transmitted by droplet infection ( coughing , sneezing or kissing) or by smear infection (shaking hands, touching infected objects). There is a risk of infection for the entire period in which the bacterium is in the body. The incubation period for diphtheria is relatively short. It is usually two to five days, in exceptional cases eight days.

When to the doctor?

Even today, about 20 percent of all cases of diphtheria end in death. Therapy is therefore necessary as early as possible. The doctor should therefore be consulted at the slightest suspicion of a possible illness from diphtheria. The doctor will probably be able to make the diagnosis based on the typical symptoms such as a sore throat, difficulty swallowing , fever, lethargy, whitish-yellow coatings on the tonsils or a sweetish-putrid bad breath, and a swab will also be taken.

Even if there is a suspicion, the therapy must begin before the confirmation from the laboratory is available, because this is the only way to stop the spread of the toxin and the evidence. In this way, complications can be avoided and the course can be alleviated. Since diphtheria is a notifiable disease under the Infection Protection Act , anyone who even suspects that they have diphtheria should see a doctor. If the disease breaks out in facilities such as day care centers or schools and the first signs of diphtheria can be observed in a child, a visit to the doctor is essential.

symptoms and course

The symptoms of diphtheria are mostly related to the upper respiratory tract. The disease begins insidiously with a sore throat , difficulty swallowing and fever , later hoarseness , signs of paralysis of the soft palate, breathing noises. It develops into a throat and tonsillitis with typical grey-white coatings. These can not only be seen on the tonsils, but spread throughout the entire throat area.

A noticeable, sweetish bad breath is typical of diphtheria. Those affected often have a severely swollen throat. Depending on the type of diphtheria, discharge from the nose (nasal diphtheria) or bloody, watery discharge from the eyes (conjunctival diphtheria) can occur.

Pseudomembranes (flat coverings) on the tonsils, palate, uvula or nasal mucosa usually indicate a severe course of diphtheria.

In connection with diphtheria, such complications as inflammation of the heart muscle , neurological disorders (e.g. symptoms of paralysis and difficulty swallowing), inflammation of the lungs and, in rare cases, damage to the liver or kidneys have been demonstrated.

Diphtheria basically has a good healing prognosis. With early detection, complications can be largely ruled out, but the overall mortality rate for diphtheria is far below that of other diseases.

Diagnose

Diphtheria is relatively easy to detect. The doctor can already diagnose diphtheria based on the clinical picture and the typical features. To secure the diagnosis, a smear of the coverings of the mucous membrane, in which the pathogen can be detected, is used. Because of the acute risk of infection, treatment is usually started before the laboratory findings are available. It is important to isolate the affected patient if diphtheria is suspected.

complications

As a rule, diphtheria is a very serious disease. If this is not treated, the patient dies in most cases. For this reason, vaccination or direct treatment of this disease is necessary to avoid consequential damage. Most of those affected suffer from breathing difficulties and a very strong fever. Furthermore, paralysis occurs all over the body and the patient suffers from foul breath . The lymph nodes swell and in many cases tonsillitis occurs. Due to the shortness of breath, most patients also suffer from panic attacks or sweating.

Diphtheria significantly reduces the patient’s quality of life and leads to severe limitations in everyday life. If left untreated, it can also lead to heart muscle inflammation, which is usually fatal. The eyes can also be affected by visual disturbances and the person concerned can suffer from speech difficulties. The treatment itself does not lead to any special complications and is carried out with the help of drugs. If treatment is initiated late, however, life expectancy may be reduced or consequential damage may occur.

treatment and therapy

Diphtheria is initially treated with medication. If the disease is detected early, it is possible to render the pathogen harmless with an antidote. However, this is only possible as long as the toxin has not yet adhered to the cells.

Antibiotics such as penicillin or erythromycin are used to kill the actual pathogen and curb the formation of toxins . The other treatment methods depend on the severity of the disease and any complications and side effects that may occur. Patients with severe inflammation in the area of ​​the trachea often suffer from breathing difficulties and may have to be artificially ventilated.

The condition of patients with diphtheria must be checked and monitored at relatively short intervals so that any complications can be recognized in good time and countermeasures can be taken. In addition to drug therapy, strict bed rest is also prescribed to avoid damage to the heart muscle.

prevention

Immunization can effectively and sustainably prevent diphtheria. The immunization takes place in several steps by vaccination with a toxoid vaccine.In order not to interrupt or nullify vaccination protection, the following periods are recommended:

  • the first three vaccinations within the first six months of life
  • the fourth vaccination by the age of eleven months at the latest
  • Refreshers at ages 5-6 and ages 9-17.

After that, it is no longer necessary to vaccinate again.

Diphtheria has been pushed back so far with the help of vaccinations that in countries with a high vaccination rate there are hardly any new cases.

Dorothy Farrar

Hello and welcome to my Health Guide & Encyclopedia! My name is Dorothy Farrar, and I'm the founder and main author of this platform.
My passion for health and wellness started at a young age when I became interested in the connection between the food we eat and the way we feel. This fascination led me to study nutrition and dietetics in college, where I learned about the importance of a balanced diet and the impact of various nutrients on the body.

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