How dangerous is diphtheria?

Professor and doctor, Dr. Nguyen Thanh Bao, Department of Microbiology, Ho Chi Minh City University of Medicine and Pharmacy, said diphtheria is an acute infectious disease caused by diphtheria bacteria. Anyone who comes into contact with the germ can be infected. People with low immunity are more likely to get sick. Usually children from one to 10 years of age are most susceptible to disease due to the absence of antibodies from their mothers.

Diphtheria outbreaks do not follow a clear season, only the source of the disease will infect. When the patient coughs or sneezes, the bacteria spread out around the air and spread the disease to healthy people. Also exposure through the skin when scratched also leads to spread of diphtheria bacteria.

Symptoms of diphtheria are mainly sore throat.(Artwork: News).

Symptoms of diphtheria are mainly pharyngitis , with a white false membrane due to inflamed cells clinging to the palate. If left untreated, this membrane spreads to fill the respiratory tract, resulting in suffocation. Unlike other common bacteria, leukemia causes sore throat, fever, fever and the most dangerous is that the toxin of bacteria can follow the blood that affects the main organs of the body causing inflammation of the heart, inflammation kidney. Even bacteria acting on the nervous system cause paralysis of hands, leg paralysis, squinting eyes, the voice of the sick person can change due to laryngeal lisp.

When detecting infected children, parents should pay attention to take measures to prevent complications caused by bacterial toxins. Patients should be vaccinated against diphtheria (Serum Anti-Diphtheriae-SAD) to neutralize bacterial toxins, prevent toxic effects on the heart, kidneys and nervous system. Then the doctor will prescribe the use of appropriate antibiotics to cure the defect.

The best way to prevent disease is to vaccinate children 3 times from birth , each month apart. After one year, the vaccination is repeated, after 5 years repeat again. Dr. Bao advised patients to have a sore throat and the symptoms should be examined early. If a physician discovers that a white false membrane in the suspicious throat is diphtheria, the enemy will only be vaccinated against toxins to prevent complications.