Diphtheria : Diphtheria is an upper respiratory tract illness caused by Corynebacterium diphtheriae, a facultative anaerobic, Gram-positive bacterium. It is characterized by sore throat, low fever, and an adherent membrane (a pseudomembrane) on the tonsils, pharynx, and/or nasal cavity. A milder form of diphtheria can be restricted to the skin. Less common consequences include myocarditis(about 20% of cases) and peripheral neuropathy (about 10% of cases )
Symptoms usually occur 1 to 7 days after the bacteria enter your body:
• Bluish coloration of the skin
• Bloody, watery drainage from nose
• Breathing problems, including difficulty breathing, fast breathing, high-pitch breathing sound (stridor)
• Chills
• Croup-like (barking) cough
• Drooling (suggests airway blockage is about to occur)
• Fever
• Hoarseness
• Painful swallowing
• Skin lesions (usually seen in tropical areas)
• Sore throat (may range from mild to severe)
Drugs for treatment of Diphtheria
• DPT- Diphtheria, Tetanus and Pertussis Vaccine
• Clindamycin
• Erythromycin
• Haemophilus B Conjugate Vaccine
• Pediarix Vaccine
• Tetanus-Diphtheria-Acellular Pertussis (Tdap)
• Penicillin