The Department of Health has rolled out a massive Diptheria Catch vaccination program in response to the recent Diptheria Outbreak in KZN. I have questions from others daily regarding this disease and vaccination. I have attached some useful information in this blog post :
What is Diptheria?
It is a bacterial infection that affects the membranes of the throat and nose.
What causes Diptheria?
It is caused by a bacteria called Corynebacterium Diptheriae.
How is it spread?
It is spread by person to person contact, on contact with tems that have bacteria on it. If you come into ocntact with an infected persons used cup or a tissue that the person sneezed into you may acquire the bacteria. The mist exhaled by an infected person when he sneezes or coughs contains the bacteria. Even if a person does not show symptoms of the disease, an infected person may transmit the infect for up to 6 weeks.
Diptheria vaccination
The vaccine is given as a single shot in a combined vaccine called DTaP ( also containing pertussis and tetanus). The vaccine is administered at 2,4,6 months of age. In South Africa a booster is administered when your child turns 6 ( private schedules include the age range from 4-6) and 12. The vaccine offers protection for approximately 10 years. It is recommended that adults receive the Td ( diptheria and tetanus) vaccine to maintain protection.
Signs of Diptheria
Signs develop within 5 days after the infection. Some people may carry the infection and display mild symptoms such as a common cold. The most common symptom is a thick gray coating on your throat and tonsils. Other symptoms:
- difficulty breathing
- Swollen lymph nodes in the neck
- Chills
- fever
- a loud barking cough
- bluish skin
- a sore throat
- drooling
Diptheria of the skin presents as a redness in the affected area, ulcers may develop with a gray membrane over it
For more information on the vaccine itself, see the following document attached under vaccinations on the website.