Contents
After the invention of the diphtheria vaccine and the mass vaccination of the population, there was a significant decrease in the number of cases of this disease. But since vaccinations are given in early childhood, the acquired immunity gradually decreases, from which the symptoms of diphtheria are now more common in adults.
What is diphtheria
Diphtheria is an acute infection in which the pathogen penetrates through the mucous membranes, where it forms a specific film. The infection is caused by a bacterium from the genus Corynebacterium. They are also called “diphtheria sticks”. Their reproduction can cause serious intoxication of the body.
The infection is transmitted by airborne droplets and through household contacts. In addition to this distribution, corynebacteria can also carry apparently healthy carriers.
Causes of diphtheria in adults
Adults who were vaccinated with DTP in early childhood can catch the infection both from patients with symptoms and from carriers of the bacterium, who may not show clinical symptoms of the disease. The risk of disease is even higher in unvaccinated people and those who suffer from chronic ENT diseases.
Diphtheria primarily affects the mucous membranes of the mouth and nasopharynx, often the disease can affect both the larynx and bronchi. The most dangerous for others are people whose disease has spread to the area of the pharynx, nose and larynx. Together with the exhaled air, they spread bacteria that can infect others.
Symptoms of diphtheria in adults
First of all, the disease develops in the place through which it entered the body. As a rule, this is the pharynx, trachea, nose, eyes, skin or mucous membrane of the external genital organs. The incubation period lasts from 2 to 12 days, then the sick person becomes contagious.
Signs of diphtheria include:
- slightly whitish film, tightly attached to the mucous membranes;
- enlarged lymph nodes, especially in the neck;
- fever;
- pain when swallowing;
- headache,
- weakness;
- sometimes swelling and discharge from the nose and eyes.
Diphtheria pharynx is the most common form of the disease. It can have varying degrees of severity.
Localized. First, the patient’s temperature rises, weakness, as in ARVI. After 1 – 2 days, a plaque appears on the tonsils.
Common. The diphtheria film begins to spread through the oral cavity to the tongue and palate.
Toxic. It is characterized by swelling of the neck (subcutaneous tissue) and a sharp increase in temperature up to 40 ° C. The films covering the mucosa are dense, with an admixture of blood.
Lightning. Due to intoxication, vomiting, convulsions appear, loss of consciousness and malfunctions of the heart are possible. With this form, plaque on the mucosa may not have time to form, since the death of the patient occurs after 2-3 days, if timely assistance is not provided.
Treatment of diphtheria in adults
In no case do not self-medicate and use traditional medicine. No gargling for diphtheria will replace antibacterial therapy, but will only worsen the condition. The treatment should be prescribed by the doctor of the infectious diseases hospital, in an isolated box.
Untimely hospitalization can cause complications and lead to serious consequences, even death.
Diagnostics
For the diagnosis of diphtheria, bacteriological, serological and PCR analysis are used. For a complete picture, a clinical blood test is also done. It helps to clarify what caused the inflammation.
An analysis for diphtheria is prescribed for angina and other ENT diseases, in which inflammation of the larynx is observed. A smear is taken from the affected surface for bacteriological examination. This allows you to find out if the growth of diphtheria bacillus is observed. If it is detected, the analysis will have to be passed to the entire environment of the sick person, since diphtheria is very contagious.
As an addition to the bacteriological method, PCR diagnostics can be used, and to find out if a person has antibodies to the disease, a serological study of venous blood is performed.
Modern treatments
In the treatment, antidiphtheria serum, antibiotics, restorative therapy are used. Carriers of toxigenic strains (variants) of the pathogen identified during examinations are subject to treatment in a hospital. They are given antibiotic therapy.
Prevention of diphtheria in adults at home
Vaccination is the most effective prevention of diphtheria. The first vaccination against diphtheria is carried out at the age of 3 months with a DTP or ATP vaccine. The vaccination is repeated at 4,5 months, six months, 1,5 years and 6 years. Revaccination is carried out at the age of 16 and repeated every 10 years.
If, nevertheless, one of the family members is ill, then it is necessary to take tests for everyone who has been in contact with the sick person. The room, dishes, household items must be disinfected with detergents. It is desirable to quartz the room with a home quartz lamp. As far as possible, the patient should be isolated.
Popular questions and answers
We asked patients to answer typical questions about diphtheria general practitioner Mikhail Peshkov.