Diphtheria

 a serious bacterial infection that usually affects the mucous membranes of the nose and throat.
 an acute febrile infection of the tonsil, throat, nose, larynx or a wound marked by
a patch or patches of grayish membrane from which diphtheria bacillus is readily cultured.
Diphtheria is caused by the bacterium Corynebacterium diphtheria (Klebs-loeffler bacillus)
Emil Adolf Behring

German physiologist who first

discovered a diphtheria antitoxin
Can be transmitted via droplet direct or
indirect
At risk:

Children and adults that don’t have

Overcrowded and unsanitary conditions
Incubation

 2 to 5 days
 Period of communicability : 2 weeks and seldom 4 weeks
Clinical Manifestation
Nasal
 localized in the nares; excoriation of the upper lip and alae nasi with
serosanguinous secretions which later becomes bloody and foul smelling.
Pharyngeal
 low grade fever; malaise; headache and sore
throat; pseudomembrane very visible within 24 hrs
Pseudomembrane

 is a false membrane, a grayish, white color and leathery in consistency and

irregular in shape, usually inflamed which
decreases the opening of the nasopharynx;
Bull neck
 a swollen glands (enlarged lymph
nodes) in the neck

 difficulty breathing or rapid breathing.

Laryngotracheal
 more common in infants; presence of laryngeal stridor; hoarseness of voice and
some signs of respiratory
distress
 In some people, infection with diphtheria-causing bacteria causes only a mild
illness
— or no obvious signs and symptoms at all
 Infected people who remain unaware of their illness are known as carriers of
diphtheria, because they can spread the infection without being
sick themselves
Skin (cutaneous) diphtheria
 type of diphtheria can affect the skin, causing pain, redness and swelling similar to
other bacterial skin infections. Ulcers covered by a gray membrane also may be
skin diphtheria
 determines susceptibility and immunity to diphtheria
Moloney Test

 determines
hypersensitivity to diphtheria toxoid
DOC- penicillin, if allergy erythromycin
Tracheostomy
Nursing Mgt

 strict isolate the patient (droplet)

 provide liquid and soft diet
 maintain good oral hygiene and proper airway
 complete bed rest
 pasteurization of milk
 ice collar for neck spasms and monitor for respiratory distress
 Call the family doctor immediately or go to the nearest hospital if the child has
been exposed to someone with
diphtheria.
Ice collar
 If left untreated, it can lead into
 breathing problems
 Heart damage
 Nephritis
 Nerve damage