What is diphtheria? Causes, symptoms and prevention

Although diphtheria is a rare infectious disease. However, in recent times, Dak Nong province has had 12 people positive for this disease and in Ho Chi Minh City also recorded a case of a 20-year-old male patient. So how dangerous is diphtheria and how to prevent it?

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What is diphtheria? What causes and how it spreads?

According to the website of the Ministry of Health, Department of Preventive Medicine, diphtheria is an acute bacterial infection with pseudomembranous glands in the tonsils, pharynx, larynx, and nose . The disease can appear in the skin, other mucous membranes such as the conjunctiva of the eyes or the genitals.

Diphtheria is a disease that is both infectious and toxic and its severe lesions are mainly caused by the exotoxins of the diphtheria bacteria. Corynebacterium diphtheriae is the causative agent of diphtheria. Usually, the incubation period is from 2 to 5 days, in some cases it can be longer .

“Diphtheria is transmitted through the respiratory tract through contact with an infected or healthy person carrying the diphtheria bacteria . The disease can also be spread by contact with objects contaminated with secretions of people infected with diphtheria bacteria . Raw milk can also be a means of transmission of diphtheria.”, according to the Ministry of Health, Department of Preventive Medicine.

Symptoms of Diphtheria

In the early stages, the patient will feel sore throat, cough and fever with chills . The intensity of these symptoms is increasing day by day. Often, parents mistake children for a cold rather than being exposed to the diphtheria bacteria.

Diphtheria will have different symptoms depending on the location of the bacteria:

Diphtheria anterior nose

The patient will have a runny nose, runny nose with pus and mucus, sometimes with blood . When going to medical facilities, a white membrane can be seen in the patient’s nasal septum. This condition is usually less dangerous because the bacteria’s toxins haven’t penetrated much into the bloodstream.

Diphtheria and tonsils

Typically, the patient will feel fatigue, neck pain, loss of appetite, and possibly a low-grade fever . After about 2 to 3 days, a gangrene will form a bluish-white pseudomembranous layer that is tough and firmly adheres to the tonsils , sometimes it can spread to cover the oropharynx.

In this case, the body can be poisoned by the toxins that have been absorbed into the blood a lot. In some cases, swelling under the jaw and swollen lymph nodes in the neck may appear, causing the neck area to stretch out like a cow’s neck. In case of severe poisoning, the patient will be lethargic, the person will become pale, the pulse rapid and possibly fall into a coma. If not treated promptly, the patient can completely die within 6-10 days .

Laryngeal diphtheria

In this case, the form of the disease is progressing rapidly and is very dangerous. Usually, the patient will have fever, hoarseness, cough . When going to medical facilities, the pseudomembranous membrane can be clearly seen in the larynx or spreading from the oropharynx. Improper treatment can lead to airway obstruction because of these pseudomembranous tissues. Patients can completely suffer from respiratory failure and die in a short time.

This is a rapidly progressive and very dangerous disease. If not treated promptly, the patient will have respiratory failure and have a very high mortality rate.

Diphtheria in another location

This is uncommon and it is usually mild. It can cause skin and mucosal ulcers such as those of the eyes, vagina or ear canal

Diphtheria causes many dangerous complications such as:

– Shortness of breath

– Heart attack

– Nerve damage

Reference: Signs to recognize diphtheria

How to prevent diphtheria

Currently, diphtheria is completely preventable by vaccination . So, the simple thing now is if you have not been vaccinated against diphtheria, immediately go to medical facilities near where you live for advice.

In addition, you can take the following measures to prevent the disease:

– Wash your hands with soap regularly.

– When you sneeze, cover your mouth .

– Maintain good hygiene of your body, nose and throat every day.

– It is necessary to keep a distance from people who are sick or suspected of being sick.

– The house needs to be clean, airy and well-lit .

Diphtheria is a rare but complicated disease. It is essential to have knowledge about diphtheria because it can help you prevent infection as well as limit its spread to the community.

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