Diphtheria

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Diphtheria
What is diphtheria?
Diphtheria is an acute bacterial disease that can infect the body in two areas:
· the throat (respiratory diphtheria)
· the skin (skin or cutaneous diphtheria)
A common childhood disease in the 1930s, a vaccine against diphtheria has made it very rare in the US and other developing countries today.

10-year-old child with severe diphtheria
What causes diphtheria?
Diphtheria is caused by the bacterium Corynebacterium diphtheriae, which is spread from person to person. Corynebacteria are Gram-positive, aerobic, nonmotile, rod-shaped bacteria related to the Actinomycetes. They do not form spores or branch as do the actinomycetes, but they have the characteristic of forming irregular shaped, club-shaped or V-shaped arrangements in normal growth. They undergo snapping movements just after cell division which brings them into characteristic arrangements resembling Chinese letters.



How is diphtheria transmitted?
The diphtheria bacterium can enter the body through the nose and mouth. However, it can also enter through a break in the skin. It is transmitted from person to person by respiratory secretions or droplets in the air. The incubation period of diphtheria is 2-5 days (range, 1-10 days).

What are the symptoms of diphtheria?
The following are the most common symptoms of diphtheria. However, each individual may experience symptoms differently. Symptoms may include:
respiratory diphtheria
When a person is infected with diphtheria, the bacterium usually multiplies in the throat, leading to the respiratory version of diphtheria. A membrane may form over the throat and tonsils, causing a sore throat. Other common symptoms of respiratory diphtheria may include:
· breathing difficulty
· husky voice
· enlarged lymph glands
· increased heart rate
· stridor (a shrill breathing sound hea...