First, what is diphtheria?

Diphtheria is an acute respiratory disease caused by infection with Corynebacterium diphtheriae. There is also a possibility of infection with patients carrying Corynebacterium diphtheriae, usually transmitted through droplets, or indirectly transmitted by sharing the same food or items. For those with lower immunity, the possibility of infection with this disease is greater. After getting diphtheria, the tonsils will first appear red and swollen symptoms, and with the progression of the disease, symptoms such as fatigue, nausea, and vomiting will also appear. Local patients may have moderate fever and pharyngeal pain. In severe diphtheria, there will be obvious swelling and congestion in the tonsils and pharynx, and there will be a foul smell in the mouth. The neck lymph nodes will feel swollen. High fever, restlessness, and blood pressure can also lead to systemic toxic symptoms, and blood pressure will also drop significantly.

Second, the treatment of diphtheria

1. After being treated with antibiotics for diphtheria, antibiotics can be used for treatment, generally penicillin. Generally speaking, the duration of administration is about 7 to 10 days. If there is still no negative change after 10 days of use, erythromycin can be chosen, or it can be administered intravenously.

2. Some patients with diphtheria are treated because the body’s toxins have caused infection, so some free toxins can be neutralized. If the severity of the illness is mild, it will improve significantly after about three days.

3. Patients with diphtheria may also experience marked discomfort in other parts of the body, so they should rest in bed. If they are extremely restless, they should be given a sedative, such as prednisone. If there is difficulty breathing or swallowing, nasogastric feeding can be chosen. If laryngeal obstruction has occurred, trypsin therapy is recommended.