Definition
In medical terminology, diphtheria describes a bacterial inflammation that involves the mucosa of the throat and nose: the peculiarity of the disease is the formation of a greyish or dark pseudomembrane in the tonsils and throat, which hinders the passage of air. To date, diphtheria is an easily avoidable disease with vaccination: clearly, the individuals most exposed to the risk of diphtheria populate poor countries, underdeveloped with poor hygiene.
Causes
Diphtheria is the expression of a bacterial insult sustained by Corynebacterium diphtheriae : the microorganism, taking root in the mucous membranes of the respiratory tract and throat, causes damage that, degenerating, can also spread in the blood and internal organs.
- Methods of diffusion: inhalation of infected saliva microdroplets (vehicles: cough, sneezing), contact with objects previously handled by infected persons, mixed use of infected towels and sheets
Symptoms
The characteristic symptom of diphtheria is the formation of a greyish patina on the throat, which prevents the patient from breathing easily. Other symptoms include: painful swallowing, difficulty breathing, fever, sore throat, general malaise, swollen lymph glands in the neck, hoarseness, rhinorrhea. Some patients complain of skin lesions, such as redness, swelling, pain and ulceration on the skin.
- Complications: renal, cardiac, nervous system damage, muscle weakness, paralysis of the respiratory muscles
Information on Diphtheria - Diphtheria Drugs does not intend to replace the direct relationship between health professional and patient. Always consult your doctor and / or specialist before taking Diphtheria - Diphtheria Drugs.
drugs
Although a large proportion of diphtheria patients do not observe any symptoms, it does not mean that they should refrain from pharmacological treatment: in fact, it is considered possible that asymptomatic individuals, carriers of the bacterium Corynebacterium diphtheriae, can transmit the infection to other healthy subjects, especially through the droplets of saliva emitted into the air with coughing, sneezing or, simply, speaking. Antibiotic drugs are the first-line treatment for the treatment of diphtheria: in general, it is preferable to start the treatment even in case of presumed infection; the simple medical check-up is often sufficient to diagnose the infection, since the fibrous plug that diphtheria creates in the throat of the victim is quite evident. Antibiotic treatment must always be preceded by the administration of antitoxin, injected intravenously or intramuscularly; before proceeding with the antitoxin, it is recommended to subject the patient to allergy tests, to avoid unpleasant unexpected reactions from the body.
However, the best cure for diphtheria is definitely prevention: there are numerous vaccines on the market, formulated with chemically weakened toxins of diphtheria, tetanus, hepatitis B virus and poliovirus.
Administration of diphtheria antitoxin : the first medical strategy to consider after the diagnosis, even presumed, of diphtheria is the administration of diphtheria antitoxin (of equine derivation), able to neutralize the toxin that has NOT yet spread to the cells. The dose of antitoxin should be established based on the age of the patient and, above all, on the severity of the symptoms; indicatively, the dosage varies from 20, 000 to 100, 000 IU, administered in dilution with 200 ml of sodium chloride solution (9%), intravenously lasting 30-45 minutes.
Antibiotic drugs for the treatment of diphtheria
The most widely used antibiotic drugs in therapy to treat diphtheria are penicillin G and erythromycin, indicated for both adults and children (at different doses). Cephalosporins are not recommended for treatment of diphtheria.
- Penicillin G or benzylpenicillin (eg Benzil B, Benzil P): in combination with antitoxin to avoid transmission of diphtheria to healthy subjects; administer the drug at a dose of 2-3 million IU per day, intravenously, splitting the load into 4-6 daily doses. Continue with this treatment plan for 10-12 days. For children suffering from diphtheria, who weigh less than 9 kg, it is recommended to administer the drug at reduced doses (25, 000-50, 000) IU / kg per day, intramuscularly, in two doses.
- Procaine (eg Dentosedina, Procai C): procaine also should be taken in association with antitoxin. The recommended dose varies from 300, 000 units per day (for diphtheria sufferers who weigh less than 10 kilos) to 600, 000 units per day, to be taken intramuscularly for two weeks. In most cases, a patient can be defined as "non-contagious" after 2 days of starting therapy.
- Erythromycin (eg Erythrocin, Erythro L, Lauromycin). The drug is an antibiotic belonging to the class of macrolides, indicated for the treatment of diphtheria, as an alternative to penicillin G. It is recommended to take the drug at a dose of 400 mg, every 6 hours for two weeks, unless otherwise medically indicated. For children weighing less than 9 kilos, we recommend a dosage of 40-50 mg / kg per day (max. 2 g) intravenously, to be divided into 4 doses, if necessary.
Active immunization for diphtheria prevention:
Diphtheria - tetanus - pertussis vaccine - hepatitis (eg Infanrix hexa, infanriz, Tritanrix HepB, Hexavac): indicated for all children, especially those most exposed to the risk of diphtheria and infections in general.
