Podcast Beta
Questions and Answers
What is the primary goal of antibiotic therapy for patients or carriers?
What is a characteristic lesion of diphtheria?
What is the primary site of infection in diphtheria?
What is a late effect of absorption of toxin in diphtheria?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the treatment for cutaneous diphtheria?
Signup and view all the answers
What is a complication of diphtheria?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the reservoir of diphtheria?
Signup and view all the answers
How is diphtheria primarily transmitted?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the period of communicability of diphtheria?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the usual incubation period of diphtheria?
Signup and view all the answers
Study Notes
Definition and Causative Agent
- Diphtheria is an acute bacterial disease involving tonsils, pharynx, nose, and occasionally other mucus membranes or skin.
- Caused by Corynebacterium diphtheria.
Epidemiology
- Occurs more in colder months in temperate zones, primarily affecting non-immunized children under 15 years old.
- Also found in adult populations with neglected immunization.
- Reservoir: Humans.
- Mode of transmission: contact with a patient or carrier, respiratory droplets from coughing and sneezing, and contaminated toys and clothing.
Incubation and Communicability
- Incubation period: usually 2-5 days.
- Period of communicability: variable, until virulent bacilli have disappeared from discharges and lesions; usually 2 weeks or less.
Susceptibility and Resistance
- Susceptibility is universal.
- Infants borne to immune mothers have passive immunity that is usually lost before 6 months.
- Recovery from clinical disease does not always provide lasting immunity.
- Immunity can be acquired through unapparent infection or prolonged active immunity induced by diphtheria toxoid.
Clinical Manifestations
- Characteristic lesion: a patch or patches of an adherent grayish membrane with surrounding inflammation.
- Thick gray membrane covering the back of the throat.
- Throat is moderately sore with cervical lymph nodes somewhat enlarged and tender.
- Late effects of toxin absorption: cranial and peripheral, motor and sensory nerve palsies, and myocarditis.
Other Clinical Manifestations
- Fever
- Barking cough
- Painful swallowing
- Headache
- Weakness
- Difficulty in breathing
Cutaneous Diphtheria
- Affects the skin
Complications
- Airway blockage
- Heart failure
- Nerve damage
- Pneumonia
- Paralysis
- Death
Diagnosis
- Based on clinical and epidemiological grounds.
- Bacteriologic examination of discharges from lesions.
Treatment
- Diphtheria antitoxin.
- Erythromycin for 2 weeks (1 week for cutaneous form).
- Procaine penicillin for 14 days or a single dose of Benzathin penicillin.
- Primary goal of antibiotic therapy: eradicate diphtheria and prevent transmission from the patient to susceptible contacts.
Studying That Suits You
Use AI to generate personalized quizzes and flashcards to suit your learning preferences.
Description
This quiz covers the definition, causative agent, epidemiology, clinical manifestations, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of diphtheria. It is suitable for 2nd-level, 4th-term students in the Dietetic Program.
