Symptoms of diphtheria in children: how to identify this disease

Diphtheria is a disease that affects more children. It is dangerous because of rapid flow and complications. So, the kidneys, lungs, liver, heart and other important organs can suffer. That's why you need to identify the symptoms of diphtheria in children as early as possible and show the child to the doctor.

What is this disease?

The causative agent of the disease is diphtheria bacillus. It is quite resistant to the influence of negative factors, so the risk of infection is great. The main transmission routes are airborne, oral and household.

Diphtheria in children, the symptoms of which are diverse, has several forms: localized, widespread and severe toxic. At the first mild stage, only the affected area suffers. It can be a nose, a mouth, a throat, eyes. Less frequently, the genitals or damaged areas of the skin are exposed to the rod. A common form is characterized by the penetration of infection into other organs. With severe diphtheria, the entire body will suffer from intoxication.

Manifestations of the disease

What are the symptoms of diphtheria in children? The duration of the incubation period can vary from two to 10-11 days, that is, so much time will pass from the moment of getting into the organism of infection before the manifestation of the first signs. The disease can begin as an ordinary cold. There will be weakness, the condition will worsen, the child will become capricious. But a runny nose, cough and other characteristic signs will not be.

How does diphtheria manifest in children? Symptoms, photos will help her to recognize. Thus, a special film is formed at the site of the ingestion of the rod, which can have a grayish, white or yellowish hue. If you try to remove it, a wound surface is formed. With a common form, the film will cover not only the tonsils (as if localized), but also the pharynx, nasopharynx and mucous membranes. Lymph nodes in most cases increase, swallowing becomes painful. Sometimes pus is secreted from the nose, in rare cases there are impurities of blood. Symptoms of diphtheria in children with a common form are not so dangerous, although fever, fever, weakness can occur.

The most severe and dangerous is the toxic form. In this case there is a rapid increase in body temperature (sometimes up to 40 ° C), weakness, pale skin , cyanotic lips, complete loss of appetite, clouding of consciousness and other serious manifestations. Sometimes there is vomiting and nausea, severe headache. The danger to life is edema of the pharynx - croup, as there is a chance of suffocation.

In the absence of treatment, the child may fall into a coma or die. Do not forget about complications: problems with kidneys, liver, lungs, heart and other organs and systems can begin.

What to do?

If the slightest and most insignificant symptoms of diphtheria are found in children, it is extremely important to immediately call the doctors of the "First Aid", as the disease can develop at a lightning speed.

To treat this disease, a special serum is used. The injection should be done in the first hours after the early manifestations. If no effect ensues, the drug is repeated and the dose is increased.

May all children be healthy!