Diphtheria - Incidence Of Diphtheria, Diphtheria Toxin, Symptoms, Treatment, Vaccine
disease antitoxin bacterium diptheriae
Diphtheria is a serious disease caused by the bacterium Corynebacterium diptheriae. Usually, the bacteria initially infect the throat and pharynx. During the course of the infection, a membrane-like growth appearing on the throat can obstruct breathing. Some strains of this bacterium release a toxin, a substance that acts as a poison in the body. This toxin, when released into the bloodstream, travels to other organs of the body and can cause severe damage.
Diphtheria was first formally described as a disease in 1826. In 1888, Corynebacterium diptheriae was identified as the cause of the disease. A few years later, researchers discovered the antitoxin, or antidote, to the diphtheria toxin. If the antitoxin is given to a person with diphtheria in the early stages of the infection, the antitoxin neutralizes the toxin. This treatment, along with an aggressive vaccination program, has virtually eliminated the disease in the United States. Other countries that do not have an aggressive vaccination program, have numerous cases of diphtheria, many of which end in death.
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Interestingly, diphtheria toxin is produced by strains of Corynebacterium diptheriae that have themselves been infected with a special type of virus called a bacteriophage. The particular bacteriophage that infects C. diptheriae carries with it the gene that produces the diphtheria toxin. Strains of C. diptheriae without the bacteriophage do not produce the toxin. The diphtheria toxin consists of …
The incubation period—the time from exposure to the bacteria to the first symptoms—is one to seven days. The first symptoms of diphtheria are fatigue, a low-grade fever, and a sore throat. As the disease progresses, the throat swells, sometimes so much that the patient has noticeable neck swelling. The bacteria infect the throat first before spreading to the larynx (voice box) and tr…
The diphtheria vaccine consists of a small amount of the toxin that has been altered so as not to cause toxic effects. The vaccine works by prompting the body's immune system to make antitoxin against the altered vaccine toxin. The diphtheria toxin is combined with the tetanus toxin and the pertussis (whooping cough) toxin in one vaccine, abbreviated DPT. The DPT is given in four doses. In …
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