Diphtheria disease

Diphtheria is a serious, sometimes deadly It can bring on It’s highly contagious. It spreads easily from person to person, either through the air in small droplets or on surfaces. But diphtheria is still a common problem in many countries around the world. What Causes Diphtheria? A type of bacteria called Corynebacterium diphtheriae causes it. This bacteria is unique because it makes a toxin that kills your cells. That makes diphtheria deadlier than some other types of bacterial infections. The bacteria usually spreads through droplets that fly out of your nose or Some people also catch diphtheria by touching an infected person’s used hand towels, tissues, or any of their other things around the house that might hold the bacteria. You could get diphtheria by touching an infected person’s open sore or ulcer, too. People with diphtheria are highly contagious until 48 hours after they start getting antibiotic treatment. It’s also possible to get the bacteria from someone who’s infected but doesn’t have any symptoms. Doctors call this person a “carrier.” Carriers can spread the infection to others for up to 4 weeks. If you catch diphtheria from a carrier, the bacteria can still turn into a serious infection, even though it was spread by someone who felt fine. What Makes You More Likely to Get Diphtheria? In the U.S., you’re only at risk for the disease if you haven’t gotten the diphtheria There are still many countries around the world, though, where diphtheria is common due t...

Diphtheria is a bacterial infection that usually affects the respiratory tract. A characteristic sign of a diphtheria infection is a thick, hard, grayish coating (pseudomembrane) lining the throat. While diphtheria is not common in the developed world due to vaccination, it can cause serious complications, including death, if left untreated. Symptoms Diphtheria used to be a very common cause of disease and death, especially in children. The severity of the infection and diphtheria's symptoms led to its once-macabre nickname—"the strangling angel"—in the decades before the infection was well understood and there was widespread availability of a vaccine. One of the hallmark features of diphtheria is the formation of a thick, hard, gray-colored coating (pseudomembrane) lining the throat. It may coat the tonsils, the nose, and other membranes in the respiratory tract. As the membrane builds up and thickens, it can make it difficult to breathe. It may obstruct the person's airway or make it hard for them to swallow. When trying to remove or scrape off the membrane, bleeding of the tissue will occur. The membrane is highly infectious and filled with diphtheria toxin. Not only does this mean it can spread the infection, but it can also make the person with diphtheria very ill if the toxin spreads through the body (in a condition known as • Those who haven't received primary vaccination or have missed "booster" shots • Those who did not receive a timely diagnosis or for whom treat...

"Diphthera" redirects here. For the genus of moth, see Diphtheria is an Diphtheria Diphtheria can cause a swollen neck, sometimes referred to as a bull neck. Sore throat, fever, barking cough Usual onset 2–5 days post-exposure Causes Examination of throat, Prevention Treatment 5–10% risk of death Frequency 4,500 (reported 2015) Deaths 2,100 (2015) Diphtheria is usually spread between people by direct contact, C. diphtheriae are the main cause in the difference of lethality, A In 2015, 4,500 cases were officially reported worldwide, down from nearly 100,000 in 1980. Contents • 1 Signs and symptoms • 1.1 Diphtheritic croup • 2 Transmission • 3 Mechanism • 4 Diagnosis • 4.1 Laboratory criteria • 4.2 Toxin demonstration • 4.3 Clinical criteria • 4.4 Case classification • 5 Prevention • 6 Treatment • 7 Epidemiology • 8 History • 9 References • 10 Further reading • 11 External links The symptoms of diphtheria usually begin two to seven days after infection. They include fever of 38 °C (100.4 °F) or above; chills; Diphtheritic croup Laryngeal diphtheria can lead to a characteristic swollen neck and throat, or "bull neck". The swollen throat is often accompanied by a serious respiratory condition, characterized by a brassy or "barking" cough, Transmission Human-to-human transmission of diphtheria typically occurs through the air when an infected individual coughs or sneezes. Breathing in particles released from the infected individual leads to infection. Corynebacterium ulcerans h...