Soriano.diphtheria

8/8/2019 Soriano.diphtheria

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Etiologic Agent: Corynebacterium

diphtheriae (Klebs-Loeffler bacillus)

Source of Infection:

Discharges and secretions from mucus surface

of nose and nasopharynx and from skin and other skin

lesions.



Acute febrile infection of the tonsil, throat, nose,

larynx or a wound marked by a patch or patches of

grayish membrane from which the diphtheria bacillusis readily cultured. Nasal diphtheria is commonly

marked by one sided nasal discharge and excoriated

nostrils. Non-respiratory or cutaneous diphtheria

appears as localized punched out ulcers.



Mode of Transmission:

Contact with a patient or carrier or with

articles soiled with discharges of infected

persons. Milk has served as a vehicle.

Incubation Period:

Usually 2 to 5 days, occasionally

longer.



Period of Communicability

Variable until virulent bacilli hasdisappeared from secretions and lesions:

usually 2 weeks and seldom more than 4 weeks.



Susceptibility, Resistance

and Occurrence

Infants born of mothers who had diphtheria

infection are relatively immune but theimmunity disappears before the 6th month.

Recovery from an attack of diphtheria is usuallybut not necessarily followed by persistent

immunity.

Immunity is often acquired throughunrecognized infection.

Two-thirds or more of the urban cases are in

children under 10 years of age.



Methods of Prevention and

Control

Active immunization of all infants (6 weeks) and

children with 3 doses of Diphtheria, Pertusis

and Tetanus (DPT) toxoid administered at 4-6

weeks intervals and then booster dosesfollowing year after the last dose of primary

series and another dose on the 4th or 5th year of

age.

Pasteurization of milk Education of parents

Reporting cases to the Health Officer for proper

medical care.



Nursing Care

Follow prescribed dosage and correct technique in

administering antitoxin infections.

Comfort of the patient should always be in mind.

As in any other nursing care of communicabledisease patient, the visiting bag set up should be

outside the room of the patient or should be far

from the bedside of the patient and a separate set

upon a paper towel as in temperature taking may

be bought and placed on the bedside table or chair.

Other nursing care should be based on the

prescribed treatment by the physician.

Soriano.diphtheria

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