Diphtheria Toxin and Symptoms Quiz

Diphtheria

• Diphtheria is a disease caused by Corynebacterium diphtheriae, a non-toxigenic strain that produces a powerful exotoxin.
• The toxin causes damage to the heart and kidneys, and can lead to paralysis of the soft palate and pharynx, ultimately resulting in death.
• Treatment involves antibiotics and diphtheria antitoxin.
• Early symptoms include sore throat and fever, while later symptoms involve the formation of a tough, grayish pseudo-membrane in the throat, which can block air passages to the lungs and lead to death.
• The disease is diagnosed by culturing a sample from a throat swab, and treatment is started immediately in suspected cases.
• Diphtheria can be prevented by vaccines such as DTap, Tdap, and Td.

Pertussis (Whooping Cough)

• Pertussis is a lower respiratory tract infection caused by Bordetella pertussis.
• The bacterium produces a capsule that attaches to ciliated cells in the trachea, and a tracheal cytotoxin that damages ciliated cells and shuts down the ciliary escalator.
• The disease has a 5-10 day incubation period, and symptoms include cold-like symptoms, uncontrollable violent coughing, and gasping for air.
• Diagnosis is by culture of a throat mucus sample.
• Pertussis is highly contagious and can be prevented by DTaP and Tdap vaccines.

Pneumonias

• Typical pneumonia is caused by bacteria, such as Streptococcus pneumoniae, and is also known as bacterial pneumonia or pneumococcal pneumonia.
• Atypical pneumonia is caused by non-bacterial microbes, such as Influenza virus, and is also known as viral pneumonia or fungal pneumonia.
• Atypical pneumonia is seen in immunocompromised hosts, such as those with HIV/AIDS.

Pneumococcal Pneumonia

• Pneumococcal pneumonia is a lower respiratory tract infection caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae.
• The bacterium produces a very large capsule that allows it to grow and multiply outside macrophages, eventually rupturing and releasing bacteria into the lungs and cardiovascular system.
• Symptoms include chronic symptoms, persistent low-grade fever, night sweats, weight loss, weakness, and bloody cough, which indicates alveolar damage.
• The disease can spread from the primary lesion to other areas of the lung, liver, and nervous system, known as miliary tuberculosis.

Tuberculosis

• Tuberculosis is a chronic bacterial infection caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis.
• The disease is diagnosed by tuberculin skin test, chest X-ray, and acid-fast staining of a sputum sample.
• Treatment involves a minimum of 6 months of multi-drug therapy, and can be prevented by the BCG vaccine.
• Tuberculosis is a leading cause of death from infectious diseases worldwide, and 10 million people develop the disease annually, with 2 million deaths.

Influenza (Flu)

• Influenza is a viral infection caused by the Influenza virus, which has eight RNA segments and spikes.
• The virus undergoes antigenic variation, involving genetic recombination and the formation of hybrid viruses.
• The disease is transmitted by droplet and airborne transmission, and has a high mutation rate.
• Symptoms include chills, fever, headache, and muscle aches, and can lead to viral pneumonia.
• Influenza is difficult to diagnose from clinical symptoms, and can be treated with antivirals such as Zanamivir and Oseltamivir.
• The disease is prevented by a multivalent vaccine, which is determined annually, and does not provide long-term immunity.

Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)

• COVID-19 is a viral infection caused by SARS-CoV-2, which belongs to the Coronaviridae family.
• The virus has a single-stranded RNA, is enveloped, and has spikes.
• The disease was first detected in open food markets in Wuhan, China in December 2019.
• COVID-19 has a high mutation rate, and several human variants have been identified, including the Alpha, Beta, Gamma, Delta, Epsilon, and Omicron variants.
• The disease is transmitted by zoonotic, droplet, and airborne transmission, and can be prevented by washing hands frequently, maintaining social distancing, and practicing respiratory hygiene.
• Vaccines have been developed, including the Pfizer-BioNTech mRNA vaccine, Moderna mRNA vaccine, and Johnson & Johnson/Janssen viral vector vaccine.

Test your knowledge on diphtheria toxin, symptoms, and treatment. Learn about the toxemia effects, early symptoms like sore throat and fever, and later symptoms involving the formation of a tough grayish pseudo-membrane in the throat. Understand the importance of early diagnosis and treatment with antibiotics and Diphtheria antitoxin.