Diphtheria Review

 # What is Diphtheria ?

It is an acute infection of respiratory tract caused by Gram positive Corynebacterium diphtheriae. The most common age group is 1-5 year's child.

# Mode of transmissions:

Diphtheria is transmitted through direct contact & droplet infection of Case or Carrier`s Nasopharyngeal secretions skin discharge and fomite.

# Respiratory Diphtheria/Diptheria type:

1. Nasal diphtheria (most dangerous)

1. Pharyngeal or Faucial (most common)

1. Laryngotracheal diphtheria

# Signs & Symptoms of Diphtheria:

1. Sore throat

   

   Bull Neck

   
   

1. Nasal discharge

1. Dysphagia

1. Muffled voice

1. Hoarse voice

1. Stridor or Noisy breathing

   

   Pseudomembrane

   
   

1. Bull neck appearance

1. Pseudomembranes

# Management of Diphtheria:

Diphtheria

A. Diagnosis

• Shick test

• Haemagglutinin test
• culture of pseudomembranes (throat swab)

Corynebacterium Diphtheriae

A. Treatments

• Early diagnosis & Treatment and Isolation

• Diphtherial antitoxins

• Antibiotics: Penicillin or Erythromycin

• Vaccination: DPT

Treatment

Vaccination

# Complications in Diphtheria:

1. Asphaxia (cause of death)

1. Pneumonia

1. Adrenal haemorrhage (typical complication)

1. Myocarditis  & Neuropathy (Most common and serious complication)

Pseudomembrane on Tonsil

# Extra on Diphtheria:

• IP : 2-6days

• Period of infectivity: 14-28days(Dz onset)

• 95% carrier & 5% case in Diphtheria

• More dangerous-Nasal carrier

• Most severe-Laryngeal Diphtheria

• Efficacy of DPT vaccine is 70%

• Dpt vaccine coverage 70%

• Vaccine not affects carrier state

• Hospital isolation is 14 days

• Carrier is treated by only Erythromycin

• Diagnostic feature of Diphtheria is 'wash-leather' elevated greyish-green membrane on the tonsils

# To know more about Diphtheria watch this video