8 children have died due to diphtheria in Rajasthan's Dig in 20 days. A team of medical department from Jaipur has reached Digg and started investigation in the surrounding areas. All children are being vaccinated. The seriousness of this case and the disease can be estimated from the fact that the World Health Organization (WHO) team has also reached Digg.
Diphtheria is an infectious disease. This causes swelling in the throat and severe difficulty in breathing. If not treated on time, death can sometimes occur. This disease causes throat problems. That's why diphtheria is also commonly called mumps.
According to World Health Organization data, India reported an average of 4167 cases of diphtheria every year between 2005 and 2014. Of these, approximately 92 people die every year. During this period, half of the total cases of diphtheria in the world occurred in India alone.
This was followed by a sharp rise in diphtheria in 2018. A total of 8,788 cases have been reported this year. Of these, 52 people have died in Delhi alone. Now in 2024 once again its increasing number of cases and deaths is frightening.
That's why today' Health waterIn ' we will talk about diphtheria. You will also learn that-
- What is this disease and how is it spread?
- What types of symptoms warrant caution?
- Who is at greater risk of diphtheria?
- What are its treatment and prevention measures?
What is diphtheria?
Diphtheria is a bacterial infection that damages the lining of the throat and nose. This layer is called mucus in medical parlance. Damage to this affects the respiratory system, which increases the risk of heart attack.
How is this disease spread? Diphtheria is an infectious disease. It spreads from person to person through contact. Apart from this, if any thing or thing has bacteria then even touching it can spread the disease. Bacteria enter the air when an infected person sneezes or coughs. People standing around him during this time may also be at risk of diphtheria.
The biggest problem with diphtheria is that there are no symptoms of this infection in the early days. Despite this, the disease can spread from person to person even during this period. Apart from this, although the symptoms are not visible, its bacteria are damaging the body.
How can the symptoms of diphtheria be recognized? The easiest way to recognize the symptoms of diphtheria is that it causes a thick brown layer in the throat. Due to this level, the respiratory system begins to block. This level gradually increases and starts damaging our heart.
It means that blockage in our throat and difficulty in breathing are its main symptoms.
Which types of diphtheria symptoms require caution? Caution should be exercised even when the common symptoms of diphtheria are present. However, the early symptoms of diphtheria are similar to those of the common cold.
Rajesh Pathak, Senior Consultant, Department of Paediatrics and Neonatology, Narayana Hospital, Jaipur, says that certain symptoms of diphtheria warrant special caution. If 3 or more symptoms occur simultaneously, it is necessary to consult a doctor immediately.
Who is most at risk for diphtheria? In general, children under the age of 5 and pregnant women are at the highest risk of infection. Apart from this, people who have not been vaccinated and come in contact with an infected person can get diphtheria.
What types of complications are caused by diphtheria? Due to diphtheria, first of all our respiratory system starts to get obstructed. This causes difficulty in breathing. Because of this, sufficient oxygen does not reach all the organs of the body and their functioning starts to suffer. Let's see in a graphic what kind of problems this can cause.
What is the treatment for diphtheria? In the treatment of diphtheria, the first step is to inject the infected person with antitoxin. This is done because its bacteria release toxins in our body. This is the reason why the toxins released by the bacteria are eliminated first.
After this, antibiotics are given to control the infection. If the doctor fears that the bacteria may spread to people close to the patient, he may give them antibiotics as well.
Why is immediate treatment indicated when symptoms of diphtheria appear? Due to this disease, an infected person can develop a serious condition at any time. Therefore, as soon as it is detected, you should immediately consult a doctor and start treatment as soon as possible.
What can be the remedies to prevent diphtheria? Diphtheria can be prevented with the help of vaccine. If children are vaccinated against diphtheria, they will be protected against it for life. The vaccine made for this is called DTaP. It is usually given to children along with the pertussis and tetanus vaccine, also known as the DPT vaccine.
Diphtheria vaccine is started to be given to children from the age of 2 months. A total of 5 doses are given to children starting from 2 months to 6 years of age.
- The first dose – at the age of 2 months
- Second dose – at the age of 4 months
- Third dose – at the age of 6 months
- Fourth dose – at 15 to 18 months of age
- Fifth dose – between 4 and 6 years of age
How to take care of health if you have diphtheria?
- If a person has diphtheria, first of all we should remember that it makes the body very weak. So, to recover from this, the body needs maximum rest.
- If the diphtheria infection has reached the heart, the infected person should avoid any kind of physical activity. A heart attack can occur due to lack of oxygen and excessive stress on the heart.
- In diphtheria infection the most damage is to the throat and respiratory system, so only liquid diet or soft food should be taken for a long time.
- If anyone in the household is infected, it is extremely important to quarantine them. This will protect other members of the household. Apart from this, all the members of the household should wash their hands regularly.
Image Credit: (Divya-Bhaskar): Images/graphics belong to (Divya-Bhaskar).
