Symptoms
The time between infection, i.e. contact with a diphtheria infected person, and the actual onset of symptoms (incubation period) is only two to four days! Since the germs are mainly located in the throat, sore throats occur at first. If the patient now looks down the throat, he/she will recognize a whitish-brown coating (pseudomembrane, pharyngeal diphtheria), which is reminiscent of angina tonsillaris (tonsillitis/monsillitis).
When trying to remove the coating with a stick, the pharyngeal mucosa bleeds. Swallowing difficulties and a changed voice (aphonic voice) accompany the disease from the beginning. A typical, sweetish bad breath is perceived by others.
The infection quickly spreads to deeper parts of the throat. If the larynx is affected (croup), typical symptoms occur such as The patients feel seriously ill, have a fever and a poor general condition.
- Cough
- Hoarseness
- Shortness of breath
- And a danger of suffocation.
Dangers of diphtheria
Breathlessness and danger of suffocation are the biggest complications of croup. The germ Corynebacterium diphteriae is also capable of producing its own toxin (diphtheria toxin).This poison can damage numerous organs: these are just some of the effects of this poison. If one of the organs is attacked, there is danger to life!
Treatment should be carried out immediately.
- Heart muscle inflammationEndocarditis
- Circulatory Shock
- Renal failure
- Neck muscle paralysis and
- Swelling of the tongue (caesarean neck)
The bacteria that cause diphtheria are able to produce so-called toxins. These toxins are released into the blood of the infected person during an infection with the bacteria and can enter the cells of the body via a special mechanism.
There they attach themselves to the cells’ so-called ribosomes, which are responsible for the production of proteins. Proteins are an important part of the human body and are needed for the survival of the cells. By attaching the diphtheria toxins to the ribosomes, the production of proteins in the cell is stopped.
This finally leads to the death of the cell after some time (necrosis), as it cannot survive without these proteins. The death of several cells leads to so-called tissue necrosis, i.e. the death of tissue parts. The so-called pseudomembranes in the pharynx, which are typical for diphtheria, consist of these dead cells and fibrin, a substance that connects the cells to this skin-like layer in the pharynx.
