Diphtheria is a microbial disease common especially with children below the age of ten years. It is normally caused by a bacterium Corynebacterium diphtheriae, and its signs and symptoms start showing two to eight days after infection. Some of its signs and symptoms include fever (38 degrees), fatigue, severe skin rashes, blood-stained nasal discharge and breathing difficulties. The Gram positive bacterium as well as the facultative anaerobic are other common causes of Diphtheria (Marguiles 20). Diphtheria is a disease that is commonly transmitted from a patient to another person through direct contact with the sick person, and also by breathing the sick person’s secretion. For this reason therefore, one of the most potential victims to the disease include the parents to the infected child or other children who constantly interact with the patient (Guilfoile 35).
Although it as a common disease especially in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, today Diphtheria is only common in the underdeveloped countries. These include African and Asian countries, since they have not taken the necessary measures to suppress the disease. The patient will constantly suffer from sore throat, tonsils and skin disorders ranging from mild to severe rashes. In rare cases, patients also suffer from Peripheral neuropathy as a result of the disease. The disease is rapidly raised from only 2,000 reported cases in 1991, reaching its fever pitch in 1998 with 458,000 reported cases. However, being contained through vaccination, and only 200,000 cases and 5,000 deaths were recorded by the World Health Organization in 2010.
Diphtheria requires immediate medical attention as soon as its symptoms have been noted when it is still in manageable levels. Tracheotomy has been used to treat obstructed throats and tonsils. However, for severe cases, Procaine penicillin G is administered to the patient either orally or through injection. Erythromycin administration on the other hand can be used for patients allergic to penicillin (Marguiles 79).
Works cited
Guilfoile, Patrick. Diphtheria (Deadly Diseases & Epidemics). Chelsea: Chelsea House Publications, 2009. Print.
Margulies, Philip. Diphtheria (Epidemics). New York: Rosen Publication Group, 2004. Print.
