Diphtheria is a bacterial infection that attacks the mucous membranes of the nose and throat and can affect the skin. In addition to being easily transmitted, the bacteria that cause diphtheria can also cause sufferers to have difficulty breathing. How come?
Diphtheria is a serious infection caused by a type of bacteria called Corynebacterium diphtheriae. The bacteria produce a toxin that makes the infected person very sick. Diphtheria bacteria can spread from one person to another, usually through droplets of saliva that are released when someone with the disease coughs or sneezes. You can also get diphtheria if you touch an open wound or sore on someone who is infected.
Why Diphtheria Causes Difficulty Breathing
Diphtheria can affect the respiratory tract and skin. However, diphtheria bacteria most often infect the respiratory system, which includes the parts of the body involved in breathing.
When bacteria enter and attach to the lining of the respiratory system, it causes sufferers to experience the following symptoms:
- Weak and tired;
- Sore throat ;
- Mild fever;
- Swollen glands in the neck.
Diphtheria bacteria also produce a toxin that can kill healthy tissue in the respiratory system. Within two to three days, the dead tissue forms a thick, gray layer that can build up in the throat or nose.
Medical experts call this thick gray coating a ‘pseudomembrane.’ It can cover the tissues in the nose, tonsils, voice box, and throat. This makes it difficult for people with diphtheria to breathe and swallow.
The above symptoms of diphtheria usually begin to appear 2-5 days after someone is infected with diphtheria bacteria. However, there are some people who only experience mild symptoms or even no symptoms at all when infected with diphtheria. People who are infected but remain unaware of their illness are known as diphtheria carriers. They can spread the infection even though they do not appear sick.
Treatment for Diphtheria
Diphtheria is a serious disease that needs to be treated immediately. Because, not only can it cause difficulty breathing, diphtheria that is not treated immediately can cause serious complications, namely in the form of life-threatening airway obstruction. Therefore, if you experience the symptoms of diphtheria above, see a doctor immediately for treatment.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states that some treatments for diphtheria usually include:
- Antitoxin Administration. This treatment aims to fight the toxins produced by the bacteria, so that they do not damage the body. This treatment is important for respiratory diphtheria infections, but is rarely used for skin diphtheria infections.
- Antibiotic Administration. This medicine is useful for killing and eliminating the bacteria that cause diphtheria. This treatment is important for diphtheria infections in the respiratory system and on the skin.
People with diphtheria usually can no longer spread the infection to others 48 hours after they start taking antibiotics . However, it is important to take the full dose of antibiotics as recommended by your doctor to ensure that the bacteria are completely gone from your body. After that, your doctor will do tests to make sure the bacteria are no longer in your body.
So, if you experience symptoms such as difficulty breathing, immediately see a doctor because it could be a symptom of diphtheria. To do a health check, you can also make an appointment directly at the hospital of your choice.
