Question 1

is cutaneous diphtheria as dangerous as respiratory diphtheria?

Accepted Answer

No less dangerous: Skin diptheria is milder than respiratory diptheria. Respiratory diptheria leads to death in 5 - 10% of subjects. Skin diptheria is usually self limiting although it can spread to the heart which also can be dangerous.

Question 2

what is diphtheria?

Accepted Answer

Diphtheria: Diphtheria is a bacterial infection of the upper airway caused by Corynebacterium diphtheriae.  This disease was historically associated with severe illness and sometimes death, until the vaccine against it was developed in the early 1920's.  Currently, immunization schedules including the DTaP vaccine have been tremendously successful in preventing this disease.

Question 3

what causes diphtheria?

Accepted Answer

Infection: Infection, usually in the throat, with cornybacterium diphtheriae produced a toxin that causes the signs and symptoms of diphtheria.
Dpt vaccination prevents diphtheria.

Question 4

what are the effects of diphtheria?

Accepted Answer

Death rate is 5-10%,: up to 20% in patients &lt;age 5 &amp; &gt; age 40 from infections caused by toxin-producing strains of Corynebacterium Diphtheriae. It was endemic in San Antonio, TX, when I worked  there. There is tissue damage. A grayish pseudomembrane covers the tonsils &amp; throat &amp;, sometimes, the larynx. It can obstruct the airway. The toxin damages the heart &amp; paralyzes the soft palate eyes, limbs &amp; diaphragm. Immunize!

Question 5

does diphtheria have a high mortality rate?

Accepted Answer

Toxic strains 3-23%: Diphtheria has more & less toxic strains with impact based on toxicity. In unprotected areas the case fatality rate during epidemics in the 90's was 3-23%. See aap/red book/28ed/diphtheria.

Question 6

do people with diphtheria have a lot of pain?

Accepted Answer

Yes: Diphtheria is a nasty illness. We don't see a lot of it here, but in a lot of foreign countries, notably russia and surrounding areas, diphtheria is alive and kicking. Be thankful we don't see it here anymore, and the vaccine is so effective. Unbearable throat pain, aches, and more.

Question 7

who developed the first antitoxin for diphtheria?

Accepted Answer

See below: Edwin klebs (1834-1913), a swiss-german pathologist, identified and described the bacterium that causes diphtheria in 1883. (just to point out the devastation that diphtheria caused, in 1883, the diphtheria death rate was 125 per 100, 000 people in new york city.) a year later, german bacteriologist friedrich loeffler (1852-1915) 
http://www.Historyofvaccines.Org/content/blog/early-uses-diphtheria-antitoxin-united-states.

Question 8

why did my skin turn blue, when i contracted diphtheria?

Accepted Answer

Blue skin: Caould be due to raynaud's if its affecting your fingers.

Question 9

how are intromuscular injections related to tetnus, diptheria, and poilo?

Accepted Answer

Vaccines given IM: Most vaccines like those for tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis are given deep into a muscle. This location allows for proper distribution into the body through the blood flow into the muscle, allowing the immune system to begin developing antibodies.The blood flow in fatty areas is not as uniform & injected material could sit for long periods without proper distribution.

Question 10

how is diphtheria transmitted?

Accepted Answer

Droplets/drainage: Diptheria is spread by contact with respiratory tract droplets from a respiratory carrier or drainage from skin lesions from a person with cutaneous diptheria..

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Doctor answers about:

Cutaneous diptheria

A member asked:

Is cutaneous diphtheria as dangerous as respiratory diphtheria?

A member asked:

What is diphtheria?

A member asked:

What causes diphtheria?

A member asked:

What are the effects of diphtheria?

A member asked:

Does diphtheria have a high mortality rate?

A member asked:

Do people with diphtheria have a lot of pain?

A member asked:

Who developed the first antitoxin for diphtheria?

A member asked:

Why did my skin turn blue, when i contracted diphtheria?

A member asked:

How are intromuscular injections related to tetnus, diptheria, and poilo?

A member asked:

How is diphtheria transmitted?

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