Causative pathogen is Klebs-Löffler bacillus which releases toxin causing diphtheria symptoms. Infection occurs airborne when you have contact with patients (via coughing, sneezing) and objects. The disease affects not everyone. In most people is formed healthy bacteria carrying. Last years is noticed a tendency for incidence rate. Seasonal pickup occurs in autumn.
Symptoms and course
By localization diphtheria may be of following types:
- faucial diphtheria
- laryngeal diphtheria
- nasal diphtheria
- ocular diphtheria
- ear diphtheria
- skin diphtheria
- genitalia diphtheria
On spots of localization of microbe is formed hardly removable hoary pellicle that is released with cough (when affecting throat and bronchi). Incubation period is 2 – 10 days (more frequently 3 – 5 days). Today most frequently occurs faucial diphtheria. Catarrhal faucial diphtheria not always may be recognized, general patient's condition almost is not changed.
Symptoms: moderate weakness, high temperature of body, and insignificant puffiness of amygdala and lymph nodes increase. This type of diphtheria may end up with recovery or it may transform into other diphtheria type. Severe toxic cases of faucial diphtheria start with temperature increase to 38 – 40C and with symptoms of common intoxication.
Cervical submaxillary gland with edema of skin structure are intumesced. In toxic diphtheria of first degree the edema reaches the middle of neck, in second degree reaches clavicula, and un third degree spreads below clavicula. Sometimes the edema may cover even face. Patients suffer from skin pallor, blue color of lips, tachycardia, blood pressure lowering.
Recognition
In order to confirm the diagnosis it is necessary to detect in patient diphtheria bacillus.
Treatment
Main method of specific therapy is immediate injection of antitoxic antidiphtheric serum . Also is recommended disintoxication therapy, vitamin therapy, treatment with oxygen.
Preventive Measures
The main way to prevent diphtheria is immunization.
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