Diphtheria symptoms

How do you contract diphtheria? What does diphtheria look like? Where does diphtheria come from? When the bacteria that cause diphtheria invade the respiratory system, they produce a poison (toxin) that can cause: weakness, sore throat, fever, and swollen glands in the neck.

Get the facts on causes, symptoms , treatment, and prevention. Signs and symptoms may vary from mild to severe.

Diphtheria is a bacterial infection that affects the throat and nose. They usually start two to five days after exposure. If you have symptoms of diphtheria or have come into contact with someone who has diphtheria , call your doctor right away. Diagnosis and treatment of diphtheria is usually made based on signs and symptoms.

A swab specimen is taken from the throat to test for bacteria. The symptoms and signs of respiratory diphtheria may initially be similar to a viral upper respiratory infection, however, the symptoms become more severe with the progression of the disease. Generally speaking, individuals exposed to diphtheria begin to experience symptoms between two to five days after the initial.

You can also get it by sharing items, such as cups, cutlery, clothing or bedding, with an infected person.

Symptoms of diphtheria. The throat infection causes a gray to black, tough, fiber-like covering, which can block your airways. The bacteria most commonly infect your nose and throat.

Although diphtheria is treatable, it is a very serious infection that can result in hospitalization and even death if proper medical care is not received. For parents of children who did not or could not receive the DTaP shot, it is important to recognize some of the most common symptoms of diphtheria. It is very rare in the developed world following an immunization programme, but there are still many cases. One type of diphtheria affects the throat and sometimes the tonsils.

The diphtheria infection is caused by the toxigenic type and the non-toxigenic type of Corynebacterium diphtheria. Patients suffering from diphtheria typically present with a pseudomembrane formation over the throat and tonsils with bilateral lymph node enlargement. Cutaneous diphtheria presents as ulcers with a grayish membrane. Get information about the vaccine, treatment, history and prognosis of diphtheria.

It is important to start treatment right away if a doctor suspects diphtheria and not to wait for laboratory confirmation. If not treate more than percent of people who get diphtheria would die of it. As is known to all, diphtheria is caused by the C. People usually can be infected by person-to-person contact, such as: Airborne droplets. The symptoms of diphtheria include moderate fever, fatigue, chills, and a mild sore throat. The propagation of the diphtheria bacilli leads to the formation of a thick, leathery, grayish membrane that is composed of bacteria, dead cells from the mucous membranes, and fibrin (the fibrous protein associated with blood clotting).

You can catch it from a person who has the infection and coughs or sneezes.

Early intervention by administering antitoxin is key to preventing systemic manifestations of the disease, which can include respiratory and neurologic symptoms , cardiovascular collapse, and death. The illness typically begins a few days (an average of days) after exposure to the bacteria. Some ulcers may be covered by a gray-colored membrane.

Your doctor will likely perform a physical exam to check for swollen lymph nodes. Early symptoms of diphtheria are similar to those of a common cold. They include sore throat, loss of appetite, and fever.