2023-05-05 02:35:03
The World Health Organization announced the discovery of more than 557 confirmed cases of diphtheria in Nigeria since the beginning of the year 2023.
The organization said in statement A journalist reported that there are about 1,500 suspected cases of diphtheria, about 40 percent of which are confirmed, including 73 deaths.
Diphtheria is known by several names, including “diphtheria” or “angina”, and it is a “highly contagious” bacterial disease, although it can be prevented with vaccines, but it spreads among people mainly through direct contact.
How does the disease spread?
It is easy to spread diphtheria between people through direct contact or even inhalation of infected droplets resulting from coughing or sneezing.
The infection is also spread by contact with clothing or objects contaminated with the bacteria.
Diphtheria symptoms
Diphtheria infection does not cause only a “mild malaise” in some people, or they do not even show symptoms of infection, and they may be carriers of the disease and spread it without realizing it, according to “.Mayo Clinic“.
Symptoms of this disease appear on the patient within two or five days, which include:
- The appearance of a thick membrane covering the throat and tonsils.
- Sore throat.
- Hoarseness and barking cough.
- Lymph node enlargement in the neck.
- difficulty breathing.
- Nasal secretions.
- Fever and feeling tired.
- Airway obstruction.
- Difficulty breathing and phlegm.
Children and adults who are not vaccinated are usually the most vulnerable to contracting diphtheria, or people who live in crowded areas where the quality of health care is very low, as this disease is still spreading in some developing countries where vaccination rates are low.
Does diphtheria cause death?
If a person with diphtheria is left without health care, he will face several health problems that may end in death.
And it may lead to breathing problems, as there will be a thick, gray membrane in the tunnel and throat, and this membrane is usually dead cells and bacteria.
And if the bacteria spreads within the bloodstream, it may lead to heart damage, after infection, which may eventually lead to heart failure and sudden death.
These bacteria may also lead to nerve damage, especially in the throat area, and the nerves of the arms and legs may become inflamed, and some muscles may be paralyzed, making the task of breathing impossible and requiring an assistive medical device.
Immunization and treatment
And confirm Global Health Organization Diphtheria causes the death of 5 to 10 percent of those infected with it, and it may reach 40 percent in the event of an epidemic, and the highest death rates are among young children.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advisesCDCThe need to take a group of vaccines to prevent diphtheria infection and alleviate associated symptoms, which is a group of “DTaP, Tdap, DT, Td” vaccines.
To obtain immunity from this disease, you must obtain three doses of vaccines during childhood and adolescence.
And in the event of mixing with a person infected with this disease, you must also obtain antibiotic treatments, and monitor health indicators for about 10 days.
And the World Health Organization refers to “vaccination” as essential for prevention, especially for children under the age of five or even those who attend schools, in addition to vaccinating health care workers and any contacts.
The organization has set “guiding principles” that include giving the patient antibiotics in order to kill bacteria, reduce the impact of complications and reduce deaths.
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