Diphtheria in children is an acute disease provoked by the ingestion of an infectious agent into the body. Pathology is considered severe, represents a danger to life. The patient's organs of the respiratory system become inflamed, the foci are large enough, at the same time the eyes and skin are affected. As a rule, an infectious agent affects the genitals. Self-treatment of such a problem can easily lead to death or numerous serious complications, irreversible health problems. Diphtheria is treated only by qualified doctors. At the first suspicion of a disease, you should immediately seek the help of a specialist. To clarify the presence of the disease at the reception, the doctor takes a smear from the throat of the ball. To prevent infection with diphtheria, you should be vaccinated on time. Currently in our country it is available to everyone, the vaccine is made completely free.
Where did the trouble come from?
If a child is ill with diphtheria, it means that a colony of corynebacteria, known to science under the second name diphtheria bacillus, has developed in the body. This infectious agent is not only dangerous, but also tenacious - it is not afraid of freezing, drying. Once on a household item, a microscopic pest waits patiently for a long time to move into the human body. The most effective method of eliminating danger is boiling. Just one minute allows you to completely get rid of infectious colonies. A ten-minute disinfection using chloramine, hydrogen peroxide is another reliable way to eliminate pathogenic life forms from household items.
Most often, symptoms of diphtheria in children requiring urgent treatment are observed against the background of contact with a carrier of an infectious agent or a sick person. The incubation period lasts only three days. As soon as the first signs of infection are observed, the child himself becomes a source of danger to others. It spreads harmful microbes around itself until the moment of full recovery. Mostly, bacteria are transmitted from person to person by airborne droplets, and less commonly through household items. A typical route of entry into the body is through the larynx, nasal cavity.
Forms and Varieties
The division into types is based on the degree of damage to different organs. There is diphtheria of the pharynx in children, the larynx, and the nasal cavity. The disease can concentrate in the organs of vision, the reproductive system, in the ear. Each variant of localization of the inflammatory process requires its own unique approach to therapy. The most common type in infancy is laryngeal diphtheria. In some patients, the inflammatory process is isolated, in others, lesions are observed first of one organ, after which new foci appear in other parts of the body. Gradually, the diphtheria film spreads to the larynx, covers the glottis. This makes breathing more difficult. To clarify the features of the case, the doctor takes a smear, sends samples of organic tissues to a laboratory study.
The first symptom of diphtheria in children is a fever. As a rule, the heat reaches 38 degrees. The child coughs, the voice becomes hoarse. Over time, the cough transforms into a bark, and a couple of days after the onset of the disease, breathing is accompanied by a whistle, given to the patient with difficulty. In the absence of adequate treatment, the fever subsides over time, but this only indicates the progress of the pathology. The patient breathes arrhythmically, possible: uncontrolled stool, urination, loss of consciousness, convulsive state. If you do not provide emergency medical care, there is a high probability of death due to strangulation.
Features of the forms: affected nose, mouth
Sometimes the symptoms of diphtheria in children indicate a lesion in the nose. Such a disease is also quite widespread among young children. As with any other localization, the disease manifests itself primarily in the heat. The child breathes with difficulty, the mucous membranes of the nasal cavity swell, the tissues become inflamed, and one of the nostrils oozes with secretions that look like a donut. In general, the symptoms are similar to any infectious diseases, so many people confuse diphtheria with a cold or flu. This is what leads to the launch of the case - they do not turn to the doctor on time, hoping that the disease will pass by itself. The heat is accompanied by weakness, lack of appetite, often the child simply can not clearly explain the disturbing sensations, and the disease is mistaken for seasonal SARS. One of the main signs of diphtheria is a sharp, severe sore throat.
If the most striking sign of diphtheria in children is a fibrous film visible to the eye when examining the oral cavity, it makes sense to assume an inflammatory process localized on the tonsils. These organs are covered with a coating of gray, it is almost impossible to remove it. Already such a symptom is enough to reasonably suspect diphtheria. The disease exists in two forms: full coverage with film, islets. Visually, they differ in the location of the plaque - it can cover the tonsils completely or cover individual limited areas. In some, diphtheria is primarily manifested in the tongue, palate. It so happens that manifestations are most pronounced on the pharynx (wall behind). First, a transparent film is formed, after which the hue changes to white, the density increases.
Symptoms: what else is possible?
Signs of diphtheria in children include swelling of the neck and apathy. The patient practically does not move, suffers from heat, and the lymph nodes gradually increase. The disease is accompanied by a headache. Gradually, swelling from the neck passes to the clavicle. The larger the area covered, the worse the patient’s condition, the higher the risk to life. As a rule, the patient's lips are dry, the skin is pale, breathing is rapid and noisy. The nose becomes a source of uncontrolled discharge of fluid. A convulsive condition indicates that the baby is in particular danger.
If the vaccine against diphtheria and tetanus has not been given to children on time, the disease is very difficult from the moment of infection, the symptoms progress rapidly, and the pathology leads to numerous serious complications. If the vaccine was received, the disease as such does not start, but the baby becomes a carrier of an infectious agent. If the pathology does begin, the symptoms are limited, not so pronounced. The latent period of the infectious agent is from a couple of days to one and a half weeks.
Diphtheria or tonsillitis?
As mentioned above, the main symptom of the disease is severe sore throat, but it is also characteristic of angina, which leads to confusion. In order to understand at home what caused the child to fall ill, you should carefully examine the baby. If diphtheria begins, in children you may notice a white film-like coating on the tonsils. But angina provokes a pronounced inflammatory process, so the organs acquire a reddish tint. Perhaps the allocation of pus, yellow plaque. With angina, plaque is observed in the tongue, the tongue swells, the pharynx turns red. If diphtheria began, then the inflammatory process covers not only the tonsils, but also the sky, but angina is completely unusual.
A feature of angina is a strong, sharp pain when trying to swallow food, so the patient completely loses his appetite. Diphtheria in children is not accompanied by such sensations, only discomfort worries in the throat, and appetite disappears for other reasons. However, you should not try to cure both diseases at home - the risk of complications is high. Both tonsillitis and diphtheria pose a threat to the patient’s life, therefore, with manifestations of pathology, it is necessary to get to the doctor as soon as possible. The kid will be sent for analysis, they will take a tissue sample from the pharynx, which will make it possible to establish exactly what the child is sick with and how to treat him.
What is dangerous?
Diphtheria in children is a serious disease that provokes numerous complications. If adequate treatment is not started on time, an infectious agent can infect various internal organs. Children who have not been vaccinated are in particular danger. Against the background of diphtheria, renal lesions, a negative effect on the nervous system and pneumonia, proceeding in a very serious form, are possible. Diphtheria can cause toxic shock, accompanied by intense fever, muscle pain, and vomiting. The child is dizzy, possibly fainting. There are cases when diphtheria provoked damage to the heart muscle. All the described complications are dangerous not just for health, but for the patient’s life, and the only way to prevent serious consequences is to get to the clinic on time.
What to do?
Every responsible parent should know what are the symptoms, treatment, and prevention of diphtheria in children in order to take all measures to protect the health of their child, and when infected, to minimize the negative consequences of the disease. As indicated above, the first time you suspect a disease, you need to see a doctor. If the doctor shares the fears regarding the diagnosis, the baby is immediately sent to the infectious diseases department of the local hospital and organic tissue samples are checked in the laboratory. If diphtheria is confirmed, it is urgent to introduce specialized serum. Only at the end of this event, observing the response of the body, can we make predictions regarding recovery, possible complications.
If the disease is severe, a complex form has developed, treatment of diphtheria in children involves the use of highly concentrated medicinal serum products. The choice of dose remains with the attending physician. The introduction of the drug is necessary immediately, as soon as the diagnosis is confirmed. As a rule, at the appointment, the doctor takes a sample from the throat and immediately sends it to the laboratory, so it will take a little time to wait for the results. If the therapy was chosen successfully, the concentration of the drug was chosen correctly, gradually the plaque disappears. The patient is prescribed a course of antimicrobial drugs that help stop the activity of pathological agents. Additionally, pre- and probiotics are usually prescribed to minimize the negative effect on the intestinal tract.
How not to get sick?
Prevention of diphtheria in children involves vaccination. Vaccination is the most effective way of immunization. Every modern child should get it. Such a measure allows not only to ensure a healthy, happy future for the baby, but also for the whole family. The essence of vaccination is the introduction of a weakened source of the disease into the body. Scientific studies have made it possible to identify at what age exactly how to administer diphtheria toxoids in order to achieve the maximum effect, and at the same time not to encounter a negative response from the body.
The first diphtheria vaccine is given to children at the age of three months. The introduction of toxoids is necessary three times. Between approaches make time intervals - one and a half months. Revaccination is necessary at the age of two. As a rule, soon after the injection, the child begins to fever, the injection site swells, possibly worsening well-being. These reactions are explained by the active struggle of the immune system with microbes. Since the infectious agent enters the body in a weakened form, the vaccine does not provoke such a severe reaction as a normal infection.
Another preventive measure that allows you to protect the environment from infection is urgent hospitalization of patients with pathology. To ensure a high level of security, quarantine measures are carried out. This helps reduce risks to healthy people.
Some features of the disease
More often diphtheria in children occurs at the age of 3-7 years. The breastfed baby has passive maternal immunity, which minimizes the risks. From the age of seven and older, a person acquires resistance to an infectious agent, which makes the chances of infection quite low. The danger of the disease is explained by the ability of the agent to generate exotoxins, enzyme compounds, factors that provoke necrotic processes, liquefaction of organic tissues. If the toxin enters a living cell, this leads to intoxication, has a strong negative local effect. Diphtheria is a necrotic process in the epithelium, leading to an increase in the permeability of the vascular walls and a slowdown in blood flow, which makes it possible to excrete exudate saturated with fibrin through the vascular walls. The process is reflected by the formation of the same film by which diphtheria can be identified by visual inspection.
If the tetanus, diphtheria vaccination was not timely inoculated for children of 7 years old, the baby became infected, with a mild form, a complete cure is possible in just a week. If diphtheria is localized, there may be no complications, but an incorrectly selected therapeutic program significantly increases the risk of such. If the disease proceeds in a moderate form, when you try to remove plaque, the surface of the pharynx will bleed. If you do not start timely treatment, the disease soon becomes severe. Diphtheria can be detected by the characteristic sweet smell from the mouth. If the infection is difficult, the coating is quite dense. With the right treatment, after four days the heat subsides, after a week the coating may disappear. In the absence of therapy or a poorly selected program, the probability of numerous complications, including damage to the heart muscle, is high.
Specific forms of the disease
If the children were not vaccinated against diphtheria on time, the disease may develop according to a subtoxic scenario. This option is relatively safe, since the symptoms are not too pronounced. The opposite option is hypertoxic, when the pathology develops at lightning speed, a failure of the heart and blood vessels is observed very quickly. Already on the second day of the disease there is a high probability of death. If a rash appears on the fourth day of the disease, a hemorrhagic form of diphtheria is diagnosed. In addition to the skin, rashes are observed on the surface of the mucous membranes. The patient is concerned about nosebleeds, myocarditis, blood is secreted in the digestive tract, from the gums. The consequences of this form are also rated as very severe.
If a disease is detected, it is necessary to urgently introduce a special serum. The method of application of the drug was developed by Bezrede. First, an injection in the amount of 0.1 ml of the diluted composition is placed under the skin, after another third of the hour, a similar volume, but already undiluted, is administered. If tolerance is normal, after half an hour (sometimes the waiting period is doubled), an injection with the remains of the medication is given. Therapy is continued until the plaque is completely gone. The effectiveness of such treatment will only show in combination with antimicrobial agents. Additionally prescribed antihistamines, glucocorticoid, bronchodilator drugs, carry out infusion treatment.
Vaccination Features
Usually, a vaccine against diphtheria is given to children as a complex drug that helps to acquire immunity to several pathogens at once. The classic option is a combination of toxoids of diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis. Since agents are introduced into the body in a weakened form, this usually does not provoke any problems. If the child has already suffered pertussis or is characterized by very weak immunity, vaccination is carried out using a specialized composition of ADS-M, developed specifically for such children. All the features, the timing of vaccination are prescribed in the generally accepted national calendar, indicating mandatory vaccinations in our country.
A diphtheria vaccine for children 7 years old is given by the drug ADS-M. In the future, re-vaccination is required once every decade. The same attenuated drug ADS-M is used. There are certain contraindications for its use. In order not to encounter side effects, all of them must be taken into account. In particular, you can not be vaccinated during the period of influenza, SARS. An injection is not given to the child if the body is infected or inflammatory foci are found. If an injection has already been made that caused a strong negative response, the body is not vaccinated again. , , , , . .
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It has already been indicated above when children are vaccinated against diphtheria: the first injection must be given at the age of three months, after which injections should be repeated regularly. The task of parents is to monitor the state of the child after the drug is received. If the injection has caused severe fever, vomiting, stool disorders, if the seal at the injection site is large, it hurts, you should consult a doctor. The doctor will examine the patient and formulate whether this is an individual characteristic of the body or if qualified intervention is necessary, the child needs medical help.
Despite the fact that the side effects of diphtheria vaccination for children are quite negative, subject to the rules of the use of the drug, they occur only in a small percentage of cases. Indeed, the described symptoms are quite unpleasant, but in any case they are much easier and safer than the manifestations of the disease. Do not forget about the complications that diphtheria can provoke: they are much more dangerous than the discomfort suffered after an injection of the drug. Some children are very worried after the injection. This feature is also an occasion to contact a doctor. And yet panic beyond measure is not necessary: side effects, of course, require the doctor to examine the baby, but in most cases they do not indicate a danger to the child.
What else to look for?
Sometimes it also happens that parents consciously refuse vaccination against diphtheria to children. Adverse reactions scare many people, people hope that it is their child that the infection will bypass. If it was decided to refuse the vaccine, but the child became ill, it is very important to thoroughly disinfect all surfaces in the house, as well as household items, underwear, which the patient had contact with. If the baby recovers, it acquires unstable immunity, there is a risk of re-illness over time. If diphtheria is observed a second time, it usually proceeds more easily, the toxicosis of the body and local manifestations are rather weak. However, this is not an occasion to treat the child on their own, at home - in any case, qualified doctor assistance is needed.