Did the bacterial disease diphtheria cause the death of 6 children in Rajasthan? Know its signs and symptoms, the only way to prevent it

The Union Health Ministry has sought a report from the Rajasthan government on the death of six children due to diphtheria, a bacterial disease caused by a bacteria that affects the upper respiratory tract and causes severe damage to the heart and nerves.

According to a Indian Times According to the report, children lost their lives last month due to the infection, with the latest victim being a five-year-old boy from Deeg village in Sikri. The TOI report blames poor vaccination coverage in backward areas, the only way to prevent this contagious infection.

The first death in the state occurred on September 14, when a seven-year-old boy from Kaman village succumbed to the disease. Thereafter, three more children died towards the end of the month, including a six-year-old girl. “We have prepared a detailed report on the diphtheria cases in Deeg which will be shared with the Union Health Ministry,” a senior health department official was quoted as saying. Indian Times. According to the report, teams have been sent to Sikri for further investigation. Officials say they will also be giving antibiotics to children in the area, so a list of those eligible has been drawn up.

What is diphtheria?

According to the World Health Organization, diphtheria – caused by a bacteria called Corynebacterium diphtheriae – It spreads when it releases a toxin that causes a buildup of gray tissue in the throat, causing serious problems with swallowing and breathing. In warmer areas, diphtheria sufferers sometimes also develop skin sores that do not heal and become covered with gray tissue. This type of diphtheria, known as cutaneous diphtheria, also occurs in the U.S. when people live in crowded, unhealthy conditions.

How is diphtheria contracted?

Doctors say this disease can be contracted through airborne droplets containing bacteria that are transmitted by sneezing, coughing or spitting, or even by touching something that has bacteria. It is also possible for an infected person to spread the disease through an open sore that another person has touched.

When bacteria adhere to the lining of the respiratory system, they generate a toxin that damages the cells of the respiratory tissue. And so, over the next two or three days, the remaining tissue forms a voluminous gray layer that covers the tissues of the larynx, throat, nose and tonsils.

Signs and symptoms of diphtheria.

Some common symptoms of this condition include:

How can you prevent diphtheria??

Doctors say that while the disease can be treated successfully if diagnosed immediately by providing antitoxins to stop organ damage, prevention is the best cure.

The vaccine designed to stop diphtheria includes one that protects against multiple infections at once, such as whooping cough or whooping cough and tetanus. There are different vaccination schedules for receiving the series of injections, including booster injections after the first ones are given.

In general, vaccine side effects can include fever, pain or redness at the injection site, and, rarely, an allergic reaction to the vaccine itself.