ABSTRACT
Background: Diphtheria is a fatal disease and may cause serious complications if not recognized early and treated properly. Objectives:To study the epidemiology, clinical features, complications, and outcomes in respiratory diphtheria. Materials and Methods:Diphtheria cases admitted in the infectious disease hospital, Beliaghata, Kolkata, India between January 2009 to January 2011 were evaluated in respect to demographic profile, immunization status, clinical features, complications, and outcomes. Results: 200 diphtheria cases were studied. 150 (75%) patients had history of an adequate immunization, and 100 (50%) patients were from lower socio-economic groups. Common clinical features observed were throat pain in 148 (74%) cases and fever in 112 (56%) cases. Complications observed were myocarditis in 136 (68%) cases, neuropathy in 30 (15%) cases, and respiratory compromise in 14 (7%) cases. Death occurred in 5 (2.5%) patients. Conclusions:diphtheria is still a public health problem in many developing countries. Strict public health measures like an increased immunization coverage, improvement of socio-economic status, easy availability of anti-diphtheritic serum (ADS), early recognition and effective treatment-all may reduce the incidence and mortality.
Subject(s)
Adult , Aged , Child , Diphtheria/diagnosis , Diphtheria/drug therapy , Diphtheria/epidemiology , Diphtheria/mortality , Diphtheria/therapy , Female , Humans , India , Male , Middle Aged , Tertiary Care Centers , Treatment OutcomeABSTRACT
The Disease Early Warning System in Afghanistan has recently detected a suspected case of Diphtheria in the regional hospital of Herat province on 22 June 2010. The suspected case is a 20 years old, married woman who resides in Herat City. She has been treated with Diphtheria Antitoxin and Antibiotic [Penicillin] and she is currently recovering. No other cases have been detected so far,. The close contacts of this suspected case has been put under observation and have received single prophylactic dose of Benzathin Penicillin. Throat swab has been collected and sent to the Central Public Health Laboratory for laboratory confirmation
Subject(s)
Humans , Adult , Female , Diphtheria/drug therapy , Diphtheria/therapy , Diphtheria ToxoidSubject(s)
Humans , Infant, Newborn , Infant , Child, Preschool , Child , Diphtheria , Gram-Positive Bacterial Infections , Pediatrics , Corynebacterium diphtheriae , Diagnosis, Differential , Diphtheria/diagnosis , Diphtheria/epidemiology , Diphtheria/etiology , Diphtheria/history , Diphtheria/pathology , Diphtheria/therapy , ImmunotherapyABSTRACT
A difteria, embora seja uma das doenças melhor estudadas atualmente, ainda ameaça a populaçao brasileira. A imunizaçao deficiente e a falta de informaçao das equipes médicas em relaçao à sua incidência dificultam o diagnóstico e o tratamento. Os autores discutem a situaçao epidemiológica brasileira e os novos métodos diagnósticos, preciosos e de baixo custo, realizados pelos laboratórios centrais de Saúde Pública.