Diphtheria is a bacterial disease. It can infect your body in two places: the throat and the skin. It was common in the early 1900's. A vaccine against diphtheria has made it rare in the U.S. today.
Diphtheria is transmitted through the nose and mouth. It could also enter through a cut in the skin. It is transmitted from person to person or the air. When exposed to diphtheria it takes 2-4 days for the symptoms to act up.
These are the most common and occurring symptoms of diphtheria. If it is the respiratory disease, the one in the throat, has a membrane forming in the throat and tonsils, which makes a sore throat. Here are some other common respirtory diphtheria symptoms:
• breathing difficulty
• husky voice
• enlarged lymph glands
• increased heart rate
• stridor (a shrill breathing sound heard on insperation)
• swelling of the palate (the roof of the mouth)
• low grade fever
The most common treatment for diphtheria is penicillan.
For more information visit the following sites:
www.amm.co.uk/pubs/fa_diphtheria.htm
