Rajasthan In Deeg, 8 children died in 20 days due to diphtheria. Jaipur medical department teams reached Deeg and investigation began in the surrounding area. All children are vaccinated. The seriousness of this case and the illness can be gauged from the fact that the World Health Organization (WHO) team also contacted Deeg.
Diphtheria is an infectious disease. Due to this, the throat becomes swollen and there are serious breathing problems. If treatment is not received in time, death can sometimes occur. This disease causes problems related to the throat. This is why diphtheria is also called diphtheria in common parlance.
According to World Health Organization data, an average of 4,167 cases of diphtheria were recorded annually in India between 2005 and 2014. Of these, around 92 people died each year. During this period, half of the world’s total diphtheria cases were detected in India alone.
This was followed by a sharp rise in diphtheria in 2018. A total of 8,788 cases were recorded this year. Of them, 52 people died in Delhi alone. Now, in 2024, the rising number of cases and deaths is scary again.
so today’medical certificate“I’m going to talk about diphtheria. You will also learn that-
What is this disease and how is it spread? What types of symptoms need special attention? What are the treatment and prevention measures?
What is diphtheria?
Diphtheria is a bacterial infection that damages the inner lining of the throat and nose. This layer is called mucus in medical language. Due to this damage, the respiratory system is affected, which increases the risk of heart attack.
How is this disease spread?
Diphtheria is an infectious disease. It can spread through contact from one person to another. Apart from this, if there is bacteria in a thing or object, this disease can spread even by touching it. Bacteria enters the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes. During this time, people around him may also be at risk of diphtheria.
The biggest problem of diphtheria is that no symptoms of this infection are visible in the first few days. Despite this, even during this period, this disease can spread from one person to another. Apart from this, even if the symptoms are not visible, its bacteria causes damage to the body.
How to recognize the symptoms of diphtheria?
The easiest way to recognize the symptoms of diphtheria is to cause a thick brown coating to form in the throat. Because of this layer, the respiratory system begins to be affected. This layer gradually increases and begins to damage our heart.
This means the main symptoms are plaque buildup in the throat and difficulty breathing.
What types of diphtheria symptoms require caution?
Caution should be exercised even when common symptoms of diphtheria appear. However, the early symptoms of diphtheria are similar to those of the common cold.
Rajesh Pathak, senior consultant at the department of pediatrics and neonatology at Narayana Hospital in Jaipur, says certain symptoms of diphtheria require special caution. If 3 or more symptoms appear simultaneously, it is necessary to consult a doctor immediately.
Who is most at risk of contracting diphtheria?
In general, children under 5 years old and pregnant women are at the greatest risk of contracting an infection. Additionally, unvaccinated people who come into contact with an infected person can contract diphtheria.
What types of complications are there from diphtheria?
Because of diphtheria, our respiratory system begins to become blocked. Because of this, there are breathing problems. Due to this, enough oxygen does not reach all parts of the body and problems begin to appear in their functioning. Let’s see in the chart what types of problems can arise because of this.
What is the treatment for diphtheria?
In the treatment of diphtheria, antitoxin injections are first given to the infected person. This is because its bacteria release toxins into our body. This is why the effects of toxins released by bacteria are eliminated first.
After this, antibiotics are given to control the infection. If the doctor is concerned that the bacteria has spread to people close to the patient, he or she may also give them antibiotics.
Why is immediate treatment recommended when symptoms of diphtheria appear?
Due to this disease, serious conditions can occur at any time in the infected person. Therefore, as soon as it is detected, you should immediately consult a doctor and start treatment as soon as possible.
What can be done to prevent diphtheria?
Diphtheria can be prevented with a vaccine. If children receive the diphtheria vaccine, they will remain protected throughout their lives. The name of the vaccine designed for this purpose is DTaP. It is usually given to children along with the pertussis and tetanus vaccine, also known as the DPT vaccine.
The diphtheria vaccine begins to be given to children from the age of 2 months. A total of 5 doses are given to children aged 2 months to 6 years.
First dose – at 2 months of age. Second dose – at age 4 months. Third dose – at age 6 months. Fourth dose – at age 15 to 18 months. at 6 years old.
How to take care of your health if you have diphtheria?
If a person suffers from diphtheria, first of all we must remember that because of this the body becomes very weak. Therefore, to recover from it, the body needs maximum rest. If the diphtheria infection has reached the heart, then the infected person should avoid all physical activity. Due to lack of oxygen and excessive stress on the heart, a heart attack may occur. In case of diphtheria infection, most of the damage is caused to the throat and respiratory system. Therefore, only a liquid diet or soft foods should be consumed for a long time. If you are at home, it is very important to quarantine anyone who is infected. This will ensure the safety of other members of the household. Apart from this, everyone in the house should wash their hands regularly.
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