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Questions and Answers
What is the primary goal of antibiotic therapy for patients or carriers?
What is the primary goal of antibiotic therapy for patients or carriers?
What is a characteristic lesion of diphtheria?
What is a characteristic lesion of diphtheria?
What is the primary site of infection in diphtheria?
What is the primary site of infection in diphtheria?
What is a late effect of absorption of toxin in diphtheria?
What is a late effect of absorption of toxin in diphtheria?
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What is the treatment for cutaneous diphtheria?
What is the treatment for cutaneous diphtheria?
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What is a complication of diphtheria?
What is a complication of diphtheria?
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What is the reservoir of diphtheria?
What is the reservoir of diphtheria?
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How is diphtheria primarily transmitted?
How is diphtheria primarily transmitted?
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What is the period of communicability of diphtheria?
What is the period of communicability of diphtheria?
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What is the usual incubation period of diphtheria?
What is the usual incubation period of diphtheria?
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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.
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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.
