Diphtheria

• The World Health Organization (WHO) published the guidelines on the clinical management of diphtheria.

ABOUT DIPHTHERIA

• Diphtheria is a serious contagious bacterial infection of the nose and throat.
• According to WHO, Respiratory diphtheria is caused by strains of Corynebacterium diphtheriae, which have an affinity for the upper respiratory tract (nose and throat) and produce a toxin that causes local disease and, in severe cases, airway compromise and systemic complications.
• Diphtheria spreads from person to person mostly through the air, and less frequently by direct contact. The incubation period is usually from 2 to 5 days.
• Although diphtheria can be treated with medications, in advanced stages, the bacterial infection can damage the heart, kidneys and nervous system.
• Even with treatment, diphtheria can be deadly, especially in children.
• It is a vaccine-preventable disease, but multiple doses and booster doses are needed to produce and sustain immunity.
  • People who are not immunised or under-immunised are at risk of the disease.
• Diphtheria is fatal in 5-10 per cent of cases, with a higher mortality rate in young children.