Diphtheria

What is it?

A highly contagious bacterial infection affecting mainly the nose, throat and at times the skin

One develops symptoms usually two to five days after exposure.

Countries affected are:

Caribbean

Barbados
Dominican Republic
Haiti
Jamaica
Puerto Rico
Trinidad and Tobago

North America

Canada
Greenland
Mexico
Saint Pierre and Miquelon

Central America

Costa Rica
El Salvador
Guatemala
Honduras
Panama

South America

Argentina
Bolivia
Brazil
Chile (Easter Island)
Colombia
Ecuador (Galapagos Islands)
Paraguay
Peru
Suriname
Venezuela (Margarita Island)

Europe & Russia

Armenia
Austria
Azerbaijan
Bosnia Herzegovina
Bulgaria
Estonia
Faroe Islands
Georgia
Latvia
Lithuania
Montenegro
Netherlands
Republic of Moldova
Romania
Russian Federation
San Marino
Serbia
Ukraine

Africa

Angola
Benin
Burkina Faso
Cameroon
Cape Verde
Central African Republic
Chad
Comoros
Congo
Côte d’Ivoire
Democratic Republic of Congo
Djibouti
Equatorial Guinea
Eritrea
Ethiopia
Gabon
Ghana
Guinea
Guinea-Bissau
Kenya
Liberia
Libya
Madagascar
Malawi
Mali
Mauritania
Mozambique
Namibia
Niger
Nigeria
Réunion
Rwanda
Saint Helena
São Tomé and Príncipe
Senegal
Sierra Leone
Somalia
South Africa
South Sudan
Sudan
Togo
United Republic of Tanzania (Zanzibar)
Uganda
Zambia
Zimbabwe

Middle East

Iran
Iraq
Israel and Occupied Palestinian Territories
Lebanon
Saudi Arabia
Syria
United Arab Emirates (Dubai, Abu Dhabi)
Yemen

Asia

Afghanistan
Pakistan
Tajikistan
Turkmenistan
Bangladesh
Laos
Malaysia (Sarawak, Sabah)
Myanmar
Nepal
India
Philippines
Sri Lanka
Thailand
Timor-Leste
Vietnam

Australasia and Pacific

American Samoa
Australia
Federated States Of Micronesia
Guam
Kiribati
Marshall Islands
Nauru
New Zealand
Northern Mariana Islands
Palau
Papua New Guinea
Pitcairn
Samoa
Solomon Islands
Tokelau
Tonga
Tuvalu (Ellice Islands)
Vanuatu

Cause

Bacteria: Corynebacterium diphtheriae, Corynebacterium ulcerans
Direct contact: Other infected persons via coughing and sneezing and saliva contact (Kissing)
Indirect contact: Touching products that infected persons already touched i.e. utensils, bed Linen, clothing (rare)
Consumption of Raw dairy foods (rare)
Cattle (rare)
Cats (rare)
Dogs (rare)

Source: http://www.theayurveda.org

Source: http://www.kidspot.com.

Source: www.phac-aspc.gc.ca

Source: www.cdc.gov

Source: http://www.sciencedirect.com

Symptoms

High temperature greater than 38°C (100°F) or over and/or chills and sweats longer than 72 hours?
Headache which is on and off or a constant headache longer than 24 hours?
Sore throat longer than seven days?
General discomfort (muscle weakness), uneasiness or ill feeling (malaise) and/or fatigue (tiredness)?
Difficulty or pain when swallowing?
Swollen lymph glands and/or reoccurring mouth ulcers?
Runny nose, congestion, cold not cleared by over the counter medication or greater than three weeks?
Foul-smelling and/or blood-stained nasal discharge?
Mouth infection, Grey-white coating that covers inside ones throat and tonsils and when trying to remove it, bleeding occurs?
Dry cough longer than three weeks or breathing difficulties?

Skin diphtheria:

New rash that has appeared or existing rash getting worst, Pus-filled spots on skin on legs, feet and hands?
Spots forming to a large ulcer surrounded by dis-coloured red patch sore looking skin?
Punched out-ulcer with no distinct margins covered in a grey white membrane?

Complications /Information to beware of/General tips:

Medical Emergency Condition

And/or do not wait, phone for an ambulance if have or develop:

Neurological problems
Breathing difficulties and wheezing (it can lead to diaphragm paralysis,during infection and weeks after infection)
Abdominal pain and/or are constant violently vomiting or vomiting longer than two days (one day if a child)?
Bladder concerns:
- Needing to urinate often
- only passing a small amount of urine
- losing control of your bladder

This condition can lead to:

Hearing loss
Kidney failure

This condition may show similar symptoms to:

Please talk to your healthcare professional (i.e. Medical Doctor/Pharmacist) for further advice

Detailed Information

Please copy and paste any key words from the title: Diphtheria in the following respective 'Medtick References and/or Sources' to find out more about the disease (this also may include diagnosis tests and generic medical treatments).

NHS
Find information and advice on health conditions, symptoms, healthy living, medicines and how to get help (British National Health Service).
Medscape
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Pharmaceutical Journal
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WebMD
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Mayo Clinic
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Drugs.com
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National Organisation of Rare Diseases
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Verywell Health
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Fit for Travel
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DR Axe
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