How to Identify Diphtheria

Diphtheria is an upper respiratory tract infection. It is caused by bacteria and usually targets the nose and throat. Diphtheria is a serious infection that can lead to deteriorating motor control and reduced sensation in the nerves. In some instances, diphtheria is fatal. It is most prevalent in over-populated, unsanitary areas where the people also tend to be malnourished. Young children and elderly people are especially at risk for developing diphtheria. It was once a widespread disease across the world causing thousands of deaths per year. It affected people all across the social divide. Even the royal family of Great Britain had several diphtheria related fatalities in the nineteenth century. With the development of the diphtheria/tetanus/pertussis (DTP) vaccination, now it is mostly found only in third-world developing nations. The vaccine is now required for all children before entering school. It is recommended that adults also receive a booster of the DTP vaccine as the benefits diminish over time due to continued exposure. Diphtheria is an extremely communicable disease. It is spread through physical contact and breathing secretions of the disease such as after an infected person coughs or sneezes. Here are some tips to help you identify the symptoms of diphtheria.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Symptoms of Diphtheria

1. Pain in the throat can be diphtheria as diphtheria is often mistaken for just a really bad sore throat in its early stages.

2. Feeling feverish can be beginning diphtheria. It usually causes a low-grade fever when it begins to develop.

3. If your neck glands swell, it could be diphtheria. Diphtheria causes the glands and nodes in your throat and neck to become swollen and tender.

4. If you have trouble breathing, you may have diphtheria. The infection can coat the nose, throat, and airway passage with a fuzzy black or grey coating making it very difficult to breathe.

5. Do you experience double- vision? As diphtheria worsens it may cause your sight to become blurred.

6. Development of slurred speech can be diptheria. This is another sign that the infection is progressively getting worse.

7. If you feel as if you are going into shock, you could have diphtheria. In the later stages of diphtheria, a person may start to look like they are going into shock with pale, clammy skin, excessive perspiration, rapid heartbeat, and anxiety.

Tips & Warnings

• Contact a physician immediately if you believe you are exhibiting signs of diphtheria.

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