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Health Pamphlet Topic Diphtheria

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Biology

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Diphtheria

Diphtheria is potentially a contagious

disease that affects the nose, air passages, and

the throat but may also infect the skin if left

untreated. It is commonly noticeable by a

graying covering around the tonsils and nasal

area (Ringel, Hazir. Romm & Qazi,

2015)Similar to other respiratory diseases, the

disease outbreak is during winter and used to be

a major childhood killer before immunization

was administered. The incubation period takes

two to seven days, and infected persons are

required to seek immediate medical attention.

The disease is a reportable disease in the United

States since 1998 brought by either foreigners or

immigrants. Unfortunately, not all countries

have regular immunizations against diphtheria

causing high mortality rates that range from 1.5

to 25% (Ringel, Hazir. Romm & Qazi, 2015).

About Diphtheria

Signs and Symptoms

The healthy tissues destroyed by the

infection result to a gray membrane around the

throat and nasal passages. This is so because of

the accumulation of fluid from dying tissues.

Also, there may be ulcerations on other skin

areas when an open wound is infected.

Symptoms of the nervous system may range

from blurred vision, pain when swallowing, loss

of speech, and may also cause swelling around

the neck (Ringel, Hazir. Romm & Qazi,

2015). However, the signs and symptoms vary

depending on the location of the infection. Also,

nasal diphtheria may produce a watery and

bloody discharge with sore throats from

bleeding throats. Removing the membrane may

cause trauma that may increase the body’s

absorption of exotoxin. Also, patients often have

a fever (38.3 – 38.9

0

), severe coughing and

difficulty when breathing, a rapid pulse rate, and

general body weakness (Ringel, Hazir. Romm

& Qazi, 2015). However, the larynx diphtheria

is the most serious on with high fever ranging

from 103 -104

0

blockage of the air passage

causing serious respiratory infections and

eventually death. Nasal diphtheria becomes a

public case since it spreads rapidly than other

forms.

Effects on Health

The diphtheria bacteria releases

exotoxin into the blood destroying healthy body

tissues with the most serious complication being

inflammations of the heart muscle. Eventually,

heart failure may occur.

Risk Factors

Diphtheria is caused by a contagious

disease that releases toxins that damage skin

tissues. The damaged skin may be insensitive to

touch and can easily go unnoticed or even

ignored. Therefore, risks factors include broken

or unhealthy skin during the diphtheria outbreak.

Also, lack of immunization increases the

possible risks of getting the disease at any age

(Ringel, Hazir. Romm & Qazi, 2015). The

infection is spread through coughing or sneezing

from an already infected person.

Maintenance of Quality of Life

People are required to maintain a

healthy skin and report any developments or

changes in health. Any break of skin can become

infected with diphtheria and found mostly with

the poor people. Similarly, patients are required

to get full medical check-ups and treatment

where they are treated with oxygen and

medications to prevent myocarditis and irregular

heartbeats. In the same way,

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