Diphtheria Prophylaxis

Diphtheria General Information

Diphtheria is the generic medical term used to denominate a severe bacterial infection of the upper respiratory tract. Among its most common symptoms, this affection causes low fever, sore throat, weakness and swollen glands; however its signature symptom is the presence of a thick membrane which adheres to the nasal cavity, the pharynx and / or the tonsils and making breathing difficult. In less severe forms, the disease only affects the patient’s skin. In dangerous cases, the patient’s central and peripheral nervous system cells are damaged. The patient will experience a decrease in the control of his or her movements, and may lose sensations. Further damage to the heart and kidneys is also common. This disease is contagious, and is typically transmitted by direct physical contact with an infected patient or by aspiration of airborne bacteria that has been expelled from the infected individual’s organism along with body secretions. This is a very serious affection, causing a 10% mortality rate in infected patients, even with treatment.

Diphtheria used to be a very common disease and was one of the leading causes of death among children. Nowadays, the disease is very uncommon in developed countries due to the widespread vaccination programs as part of the routine immunization of the population.

Diphtheria Prophylaxis

In many countries, routine vaccination against this disease has been included in the regular population immunization programs, along with vaccines against tetanus and pertussis. Typically, the vaccine is administered to newborn children at 2, 4 and 6 months of age, and afterwards again at 18 months and again at 4 to 6 years of age. This is a very effective line of defense against the disease, and the mainstay of Diphtheria Prophylaxis. However, mild side effects may appear after vaccination, such as mild fever, drowsiness or tenderness at the site of the injection. In very rare circumstances, the patient may develop severe reactions to the vaccine (such as allergic reactions within minutes of the administration of the injection, seizures or shock). For more information regarding the possible side effects and ways to suppress the symptoms that may appear, it is advised that you consult a specialized health care professional.

As the immunity granted by the vaccine fades with time, Diphtheria Prophylaxis requires that all adult individuals should regularly receive booster shots in order to maintain their immunity. The first booster shot is typically administered around the age of 12, with follow-up booster shots every ten years. Booster shots may be required more often, especially for individuals which travel into areas where this disease is common.

As part of Diphtheria Prophylaxis, people traveling to such areas should try to avoid crowds and locations with unsanitary conditions; it is more likely to become infected in the middle of large masses of people or in places where you may come in contact with a contaminated surface. Also, health care specialists advise against traveling to areas where this disease has not been eradicated if you have a weakened immune system, due to medication treatment or certain health conditions.

While this disease can affect patients of all ages and races and both sexes, children and elderly patients (patients over the age of 50) are at a higher risk of developing this disorder due to their weaker immune system. As part of Diphtheria Prophylaxis individuals from these categories, as well as improperly immunized individuals should not be allowed to enter environments where there is a risk of becoming infected. People who are required to enter such environments (for example health care workers or workers that regularly come in contact with people that come from non-immunized areas of the world) should ensure their safety through proper immunization, in order to avoid becoming infected and, in turn, further spread the disease.

Diphtheria Treatment

As Diphtheria is a very serious disease, the patient should be treated immediately in order to maximize the chances of recovery. As soon as the diagnosis is confirmed by a specialized health care professional, the individual needs to be administered an anti-toxin which neutralizes the toxins that have been produced by the bacteria, and that have not yet bounded to tissues. Due to the fact that this antitoxin is ineffective against the toxin once it has bound to tissues, it is critical that the medicine is administered as soon as possible in order to minimize the damage. After the diagnosis is placed, but before he or she is administered the anti-toxin, tests must be performed to ensure that the patient does not suffer from allergic reactions to the medicine; afterwards, the anti-toxin is administered through an intravenous (IV) or intramuscular (IM) injection. Patients that suffer from an allergy to the anti-toxin need to be desensitized prior to administration of the medicine.

Apart from the anti-toxin treatment, patients with Diphtheria are also administered antibiotics such as Penicillin or Erythromycin in order to eradicate the bacteria causing the disease. The exact dosage and administration method and schedule may depend on the particularities of the case, and will be determined by the examining health care professional.