diphtheria…

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antibodies, diphtheria, acute infectious disease, toxin-producing bacteria corynebacterium diphtheriae, diphtheria, transmitted by contact, respiratory droplets from infected persons, asymptomatic carriers, transmitted by contaminated objects, foods, contaminated milk, incubation period is 2 to 5 days, bacteria primarily infect the nose, throat, initially infect the skin, producing skin lesions, corynebacterium diphtheriae produces a toxin that causes, tissue damage, necrosis, immediate area, the infection, the nose, throat, spread via the bloodstream to other organs, where it, cause significant damage, the toxin, damage any tissue, heart, nervous system, most frequently, most severely affected, localized infection, in the throat, tonsillar area produces a characteristic membrane that is gray to black, tough, fibrous, membrane, cause airway obstruction, diphtheria mild, unrecognized, become progressive, toxin enters the bloodstream, develop inflammation, the heart muscle, myocarditis, most common, most worrisome complication, toxic effects on the nervous system, cause temporary paralysis, disease is now rare in many parts, the world, widespread immunization, risk factors include crowding, poor hygiene, lack of immunization, incidence of diphtheria, fewer than 5 cases per year, in 1993, 1994, states, the former ussr experienced a diphtheria epidemic, more than 150,000 reported cases, 5,000 deaths, epidemic was related to a drop in routine childhood dpt immunization to less than 60%, the population, to give booster doses to adults, worsening economic conditions, in the affected countries, sore throat, range from mild to severe, painful swallowing, hoarseness, drooling, suggests airway obstruction, to occur, fever, chills, bloody, watery, serosanguineous, drainage from nose, croup-like, barking, cough, stridor, difficulty breathing, rapid breathing, absent breathing, apnea, bluish coloration, the skin, lack of oxygen, skin lesions, seen in cutaneous diphtheria, in the tropics, no symptoms, physical examination, reveal the characteristic gray membrane, pseudomembrane, throat, enlarged lymph glands, swelling, the neck, larynx, diphtheria is suspected, started, the results of bacterial tests, tests used, gram stain of membrane, throat culture to identify corynebacterium diphtheriae, in individuals, myocarditis, results of an electrocardiogram, ecg, abnormal, diphtheria antitoxin is given, an intramuscular, intravenous injection, the diagnosis is suspected, infection is then treated, antibiotics, penicillin, erythromycin, diphtheria, require hospitalization, supportive treatment, administration of antitoxin, insertion of an endotracheal tube, removal, the obstructing membrane required, airway obstruction is present, intravenous fluids, oxygen, bed rest, cardiac monitoring, possibility of myocarditis, immunization, booster shots, all contacts, the infected person, health care personnel, individuals found to be carriers of diphtheria, antibiotics, protective immunity lasts only 10 years, time of vaccination, it is important, adults to get a booster of tetanus-diptheria, td, vaccine every 10 years, death rate is 10%, recovery, illness is slow, activities must be resumed slowly, diphtheria toxin, damage the heart, nervous system, kidneys, organs resulting in disorders, myocarditis, lead to heart failure, neurologic palsies, peripheral neuritis causing uncoordinated movements, develops in 3 to 7 weeks, severe nerve damage, cause paralysis, kidney damage, nephritis, exposure to diphtheria has occurred, diphtheria, rare disease, diphtheria is also a reportable disease, publicized, in the newspaper, on television, information, make aware, diphtheria is present in area, routine childhood immunizations, adult boosters, prevent the disease, diphtheria immunization, vaccine.