What is the main cause of diphtheria?
In KANO Nigeria where
25 individuals, most of whom were children, have already passed away in one
of the worst-affected states in the country's north, according to Nigerian health
officials, who confirmed an epidemic of diphtheria on Friday.
There has not yet been a complete count of confirmed
illnesses and fatalities. According to a statement from Dr. Ifedayo Adetifa,
the agency's director, the Nigerian Center for Disease Control & Prevention
has launched an emergency reaction to the epidemic and is keeping a watch on
the situation in four of the nation's 36 states.
According to Dr. Aminu Tsanyawa, the head of Kano state's
health commission, the state has more than 70 suspected instances of bacterial infection and 25 deaths that are linked to it.
Dyspnea, heart failure, and paralysis are all effects of
diphtheria. The most vulnerable individuals are those who lack vaccinations,
reside in densely populated areas, or in places with poor sanitation.
A diphtheria outbreak of this size has not occurred in
Nigeria in recent memory, despite the fact that many isolated communities lack
the resources necessary for accurate diagnosis and patient care.
The COVID-19 pandemic, according to UNICEF, contributed to a decline in routine vaccines against the infection in Nigeria in 2020.
According to Dr. Abdullahi Kauran-Mata, the state's top
epidemiologist, authorities were first informed about an outbreak among
youngsters in a Kano state hospital in late December.
As soon as we received the information, we swiftly organized
a team through the ministry of health, and the investigations got underway,
according to Kauran-Mata.
The dangerous bacterial strains known as Corynebacterium
diphtheriae that cause diphtheria produces a toxin. People can become seriously
ill from the poison.
The bacteria that cause diphtheria spread from one person to
another most commonly through respiratory droplets produced by coughing or
sneezing. Touching infected open sores or ulcers can potentially make someone
sick. Those who are more likely to become ill are:
- people that live in the same house
- Those who have previously had consistent, close interaction with the patient
- People who have been directly exposed to the patient's secretions at the likely infection location (such as their mouth or skin)
Both the respiratory tract as well as the skin can become
infected with diphtheria. The damaged body part will determine the symptoms of
diphtheria. If a person is exposed to diphtheria, they typically begin to feel
sick within 2 to 5 days. If a doctor suspects you have lung diphtheria, they
will immediately order therapy for you.
The heart and lungs, which includes bodily parts used for
breathing, are where the germs are most frequently found. The respiratory
system's lining can get contaminated with bacteria, which can lead to:
- Throat pain
- light fever
- Swollen glands
A toxin produced by the bacteria destroys healthy tissues in
the respiratory system. The dead tissue develops into a thick, gray coating
within two to three days, which can accumulate in the nose or throat. This
dense, gray covering is known as a pseudomembrane by medical professionals. It
can obstruct the tonsils, throat, voice box, and nasal tissues, making
breathing and swallowing extremely difficult.
Damage to the heart, nerves, and kidneys may result from the
toxin if it enters the bloodstream.
infection due to diphtheria
The bacterium can also infect the skin, leading to open
sores or ulcers. Therefore, severe illness from diphtheria skin infections is
The DTaP, Tdap, DT, and Td vaccinations are all used to
prevent diphtheria in the United States. The DTaP and Tdap vaccines help
prevent pertussis in addition to preventing diphtheria and tetanus (whooping
measures such as antibiotics
To avoid getting sick, the CDC advises close contact* with
someone who has diphtheria to take antibiotics. Experts refer to this as
Close contacts of someone who has diphtheria should also
- 7 to 10 days after their last exposure, they were observed for any potential sickness
- using a sample taken from the nose and throat to test for diphtheria
- If they are not current on their vaccinations, they are given a booster dose for diphtheria.
Each case of diphtheria is investigated by health
agencies to determine all close contacts and ensure that they receive the
proper preventive measures.
Close contacts are those having a history of recurrent,
close contact with the patient, members of the patient's home, or those who
have been exposed directly to secretions from the patient's suspected infection
Common signs and symptoms are typically used by doctors to
diagnose diphtheria in patients. They can swab the back of the throat or the
nose to check for diphtheria-causing germs. A doctor can also try to
culture the germs using a sample from an open sore or ulcer. A patient is
diagnosed with diphtheria if the bacteria multiply and produce the diphtheria
toxin. However, since the germs take time to develop, it is crucial to begin
therapy as soon as a doctor suspects respiratory diphtheria.
Treatment for diphtheria includes:
- To block the bacterium toxin from harming the body, use diphtheria antitoxin.
- Although it is rarely used for diphtheria skin infections, this treatment is crucial for pulmonary diphtheria infections.
- Antibiotics are used to eradicate and destroy germs. This is crucial for diphtheria infections of the skin, respiratory system, skin, and other body parts (e.g., eyes, blood).
48 hours after starting antibiotic treatment, people with
diphtheria are typically no longer contagious. To ensure that the germs are
totally eradicated from the body, it is crucial to finish the entire course of
antibiotics. The doctor will perform tests after the patient completes the
entire course of treatment to ensure that the germs are no longer present in
the patient's body.
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