Courtesy: Mayo Clinic
Doctors may suspect diphtheria in a sick child who has a sore throat with a gray membrane covering the tonsils and throat. Growth of C. diphtheriae in a lab culture of material from the throat membrane confirms the diagnosis. Doctors can also take a tissue sample from an infected wound and have it tested in a lab to check for the type of diphtheria that affects the skin (cutaneous diphtheria).
If a doctor suspects diphtheria, treatment begins immediately, even before the results of bacterial tests are available.
Treatment:
Diphtheria is a serious illness. Doctors treat it immediately and aggressively. Doctors first ensure that the airway isn't blocked or reduced. In some cases, they may need to place a breathing tube in the throat to keep the airway open until the airway is less inflamed. Treatments include:
• Antibiotics: Antibiotics, such as penicillin or erythromycin, help kill bacteria in the body, clearing up infections. Antibiotics lessen the time that someone with diphtheria is contagious.
• An antitoxin: If a doctor suspects diphtheria, he or she will request a medication that counteracts the diphtheria toxin in the body. This medication comes from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Called an antitoxin, this drug is injected into a vein or muscle.
