DIPHTHERIA

Diphtheria is an infection caused by bacteria that  affects the throat, tonsils and nose. It can be spread through air. When someone sneezes or coughs the droplets shoot out a long way and land on anyone who is around. Some of these germs make a toxin (poison) which can affect other parts of the body too, like the heart or the brain.

Symptoms of Diphtheria may include:

  • Fever
  • Sore Throat
  • Swollen Neck and Neck Glands
  • Runny nose
  • Something which looks like a spider web could appear on the back of the throat or in the nose and as it grows it blocks the throat making it difficult to breathe.

A person with diphtheria must be treated with antibiotics and immunized.

Anyone who has been in contact with someone who gets diphtheria needs to be checked out by a doctor. The doctor has to report the disease so that others can be protected from it.

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