family members and other contacts of diphtheria patients must be watched for symptoms and tested to see if they are carriers. They are usually given antibiotics for seven days and a booster shot of diphtheria/tetanus toxoid.
Cutaneous diphtheria is usually treated by cleansing the wound thoroughly with soap and water, and giving the patient antibiotics for 10 days.
Patients who are sensitive (about 10%) must be desensitized with diluted antitoxin, since the antitoxin is the only specific substance that will counteract diphtheria exotoxin. No human antitoxin is available for the treatment of diphtheria.
the patient will die
Caregiver management of diphtheria involves ensuring the administration of diphtheria antitoxin to neutralize the toxin produced by the bacteria, alongside antibiotics like penicillin or erythromycin to eliminate the infection. Caregivers should monitor the patient for respiratory distress and complications, providing supportive care as needed. Isolation precautions are essential to prevent the spread of the disease, and caregivers must educate family members about the importance of vaccination and booster doses for prevention. Regular follow-up is crucial to ensure recovery and monitor for any potential complications.
can you die from Diphtheria?
In some cases yes. Especially when not getting any form of treatment. It lasted until penicillin was discovered until the disease was becoming perfectly manageable. In 1878, Queen Victoria's daughter Princess Alice and her family became infected with it, causing two deaths, Princess Marie of Hesse and by Rhine and Princess Alice herself.
The virulence factor for diphtheria is an exotoxin named diphtheria exotoxin.
It just happens when it happens, be patient.
Diphtheria baccili used to attack the throat very commonly. Where white patch could be seen on tonsils or nearby. It used to bleed when stripped off. (Very rarly a transparent membrane was there, making diagnosis very difficult.) Second place was larynx. Patient, usually child uesd to land up in emmergency room with chocked throat, gasping to breath. With emmerency tracheostomy, there used to be a violent cough, leading to expulsion of diphtheria membrane. Diphtheria patient used to come with 'toxic look', general toxicity signs and thredy pulse and low blood pressure, with all body systems affeced.
No, the noun 'diphtheria' is a common noun, a word for any instance of diphtheria.
Check with your local county (or city) Medical Examiner or Coroners Office. There is probably some mechanism in place for burying deceased paupers.
The bacterium that causes the infection diphtheria.