{"id":9147,"date":"2019-08-16T16:25:49","date_gmt":"2019-08-16T16:25:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/simplyhealth.io\/?p=9147"},"modified":"2021-06-21T15:40:36","modified_gmt":"2021-06-21T15:40:36","slug":"14-known-signs-of-diphtheria","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/simplyhealth.io\/14-known-signs-of-diphtheria\/","title":{"rendered":"14 Known Signs of Diphtheria"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Diphtheria is a bacterial infection that can be quite serious. It will most often affect the mucous membranes located in the throat and the nose. There are several symptoms of diphtheria and unfortunately, they mimic those of the common cold and even the flu. However, the main sign of diphtheria is a grayish colored material that is thick and covers the back of the throat. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If this is left untreated it can block the airway, making it hard to breathe. Fortunately, in the United States, diphtheria is rather rare. It is also not common in other developed countries. This is because of vaccination against the disease. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are medications available that can help to treat diphtheria. However, if not treated quickly and sometimes even with treatment, diphtheria can become deadly. Nearly three percent of people infected die from it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This rate is higher in children who are under the age of fifteen. For this reason it is important to know some of the common signs of the disease. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Nasal Congestion<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

When your nose is feeling stuffed up, chances are that you do not think much about it. If your child has a stuffy nose, you likely will write it off as being caused by a cold or other type of virus and will not worry too much about it. However, during the early stages of diphtheria, a child may develop a runny nose and sneezing quite often. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Often times, when it is diphtheria that is causing the runny nose and sneezing, over the counter medications will not provide any type of relief. Diphtheria <\/a>can be spread through the mucus. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The bacteria may remain contagious in the mucus for several hours after a sneeze or after contact with another individual. This is why it is important to make sure that you are washing not only your hands, but your child\u2019s hands frequently when they are ill as this is the best way to help prevent the disease from spreading. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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2. Cough<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Once again, one of the symptoms of diphtheria can often be misinterpreted as being a common respiratory infection or even a cold or the flu. The symptom is a cough. This cough <\/a>may be quite harsh, very irritated, and is typically quite dry. When a person is suffering from the flu, this same type of cough may appear. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, a cough that is caused by diphtheria will often be a bit wetter and will sometimes produce mucus. The cough that is caused by diphtheria is typically not helped by any over the counter medications. These medications may stop the cough for a bit, the typically the medication will not help with this symptom. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is important to visit your doctor to determine what type of bacteria or virus is causing you to experience this cough. Once your illness is properly diagnosed, treatment can be started so that you will be on your way to recovery. 
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3. Fever<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

When the body is fighting off any type of infection, chances are high that you are going to run a fever. When a person has been infected with diphtheria, a fever <\/a>is likely to occur. This typically happens not long after the secondary symptoms start to appear. A person may become quite weak and feverish during this stage of the illness. A fever can be treated with anti-inflammatory medications, but the fever will continue to come back until the diphtheria is eradicated. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fevers are a symptom of many illnesses as the body needs to maintain a temperature that is constant. When the lymphatic system is fully engaged and the body enters full defense mode, the blood runs much faster. This causes the body to overheat. This will affect the other organs in the body and cause their functions to become weak, which can cause a person to feel quite ill. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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4. Sore Throat<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Most of the time if you are suffering from a sore throat<\/a> it is caused by a virus. There is no medication that can be given to you to help ease the pain that you are experiencing from a viral infection that is causing your throat to be sore. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, if you are suffering from a sore throat that is caused by a bacterium such as diphtheria, there are medications that can be provided by your doctor in order to help cure your ailment. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you are suffering from a sore throat and you also have some of the other symptoms on this list, seeking medical attention is very important. It is important to be tested by a doctor to determine the underlying cause for the sore throat and other symptoms that you may have in order to get proper treatment started right away. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The sooner medical attention is provided the better. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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5. Hoarseness<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Hoarseness <\/a>or a raspy voice can be caused by many different things. The medical term for hoarseness is laryngitis. This occurs when the larynx becomes swollen and inflamed. The larynx is often referred to as the voice box. Most of the time laryngitis is caused by a common virus. In some cases it can simply be caused by overuse of the voice. In these cases, the symptoms are not serious. However, there are some causes of hoarseness, such as diphtheria that will require medical attention. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you are suffering from a sore throat, running a fever, and have developed laryngitis, it is important to seek medical attention right away as this could be a sign that you have been infected with the bacteria that causes diphtheria. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It can also be a symptom of several other significant medical issues such as throat or thyroid cancer, which is why it is important to determine the underlying cause. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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6. Difficulty Swallowing<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Another unpleasant aspect of diphtheria is that it can make it difficult and even painful to swallow. When your throat is sore and swollen from the bacteria, it can make both eating and drinking quite difficult. When you are struggling to eat or drink it can cause more severe complications such as dehydration. When the body is not hydrated it can begin to shut down. Not eating can also cause a person to start losing weight unexpectedly. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dehydration <\/a>can be quite serious when it is combined with a fever. When you consider that drinking plenty of fluids is one of the best ways to flush the body of toxins, it is easy to see why not being able to swallow can become quite dangerous rather quickly. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you have a sore throat and are struggling to swallow, try to at least sip on some water every hour. If you are suffering from this, seek medical attention right away in order to determine the underlying cause and begin proper treatment. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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7. Malaise<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

When a person first develops diphtheria, a lot of the symptoms of the disease are easy to confuse with the common cold or even the flu. As mentioned, with each of these illnesses, a person will often run a fever and may develop a cough. One symptom that is similar in all three illnesses is a feeling of general malaise<\/a>. This includes pain, fatigue, and muscle aches. All of these are prevalent among many different types of viral infections. This is why it can be difficult to diagnose diphtheria. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Unfortunately, this also means that a person who has the diphtheria may not realize it until they have been to many different places such as school or work, thus spreading the illness to many people all at once. Feeling tired and being in pain all the time is something that you need to discuss with your doctor. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Your medical provider will be able to determine what the cause of your symptoms are and help start you on the proper treatment. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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8. Difficulty Breathing<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

When a person has been infected with the bacteria that cause diphtheria, they may at first think that they are just suffering from a head cold or an upper respiratory tract infection. They may even think that they have the flu. However, when the bacteria that causes diphtheria starts to take over the body, a gray-colored mucus will begin to appear. This can cause coughing and sneezing. When it is not treated properly, this mucus <\/a>can cover the back of the throat. When this occurs a person may find it difficult to breathe. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is when the disease can become quite dangerous and is why it is important to make sure that you seek medical attention right away. The sooner that treatment is started for diphtheria, the better as an early diagnosis increases the chances of survival. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you have been traveling and come down with an illness, it is important to seek medical attention right away. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\r\n

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