Childhood Diphtheria

By Poonam Sharma

What are the signs and symptoms of diphtheria?

The signs and symptoms usually appear from 2 to four days after a person gets affected, but they may take as many as 10 days to appear. Mostly it affects the throat, but sometimes the infection starts in the nose.

* Fever or chill
* A sore throat
* Problem in swallowing
* A thick, gray membrane covering your throat and tonsils
8 Problem in breathing
* Swollen neck glands or neck
* Running nose
* Malsie
* Skin lesions

How is diphtheria spread?

Diphtheria is usually transmitted through human to human by contact with droplets from the affected persons’ nose or throat through sneezing or coughing. The disease is generally spread by using contaminated personal items like same handkerchiefs or tissues of affected person. Another reason could be using contaminated household items, such as towels or toys of affected person.

Is there a vaccine for diphtheria?

Diphtheria vaccine is usually combined with tetanus vaccine and acellular pertussis vaccine to form a triple vaccine known as DTaP. This vaccine should be given at two, four, six and 15-18 months of age, and between four and six years of age. A combination of tetanus vaccine and diphtheria vaccine (Td) should be given every 10 years to maintain immunity.

What are the risk factors?

The young children below 5 years and adults older than 60 are particularly at risk of contracting diphtheria, as are:

• Young children and adults who don't have up-to-date immunizations

• People living in crowded or unsanitary conditions

• People who are undernourished

• People who have a weak immune system

How is diphtheria treated?

Diphtheria is a serious illness and can be treated with antibiotics such as penicillin or erythromycin and with an antidote to the toxin. The antitoxin neutralizes the diphtheria toxin already circulating in your body. The antitoxin is injected into a vein (intravenously) or into a muscle (intramuscular injection) but this may not get rid of all of the problems quickly.

revention
Diptheria was a deadly, common disease in young children before antibiotics were available. Today, the disease is not only treatable but also preventable with a vaccine.

The diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis (whooping cough) and polio are diseases that can cause serious illness or death. All four diseases can be prevented if your child is fully immunised. The vaccines consists of five shots and administred on arm of children at ages of 2 months, 4 months, 6 months, 15 to 18 months and 4 to 6 years. Children can receive a combined diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis and poliomyelitis (DTP IPV) vaccine.

Diphtheria vaccine is very effective at preventing diphtheria but it has some side effects. Some children may experience a mild fever, fussiness, drowsiness or tenderness at the injection site after a diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis shot. Booster shots are recommended for adults every 10 years.