Treatment
Children and adults with diphtheria are treated in a hospital. After a doctor confirms
the diagnosis through a throat
culture, the infected person receives a special anti-toxin, given through injections
or an IV, to neutralize the diphtheria toxin already circulating in the body, plus
antibiotics to kill the remaining diphtheria bacteria.
If the infection is advanced, people with diphtheria may need a ventilator to help
them breathe. In cases in which the toxins may have spread to the heart, kidneys,
or central nervous system, patients may need intravenous fluids, oxygen, or heart
medications.
A person with diphtheria must be isolated. Family members and other close contacts
who haven't been immunized, or who are very young or elderly, must be protected from
contact with the patient.
When someone is diagnosed with diphtheria, the doctor will notify the local health
department and treat everyone in the household who may have been exposed to the bacteria.
Treatment includes assessment of immune status, throat cultures, and booster doses
of the diphtheria vaccine. They will also receive antibiotics as a precaution.
Immediate hospitalization and early intervention allow most patients to recover
from diphtheria. After the antibiotics and anti-toxin have taken effect, someone with
diphtheria will need bed rest for a while (4 to 6 weeks, or until full recovery).
Bed rest is particularly important if someone develops myocarditis (inflammation
of the heart muscle), which can be a complication of diphtheria.
Those who have recovered should still receive a full course of the diphtheria vaccine
to prevent a recurrence because contracting the disease doesn't guarantee lifetime
immunity.
When to Call the Doctor
Call your doctor immediately if anyone in your family has symptoms of diphtheria,
if you observe symptoms in someone else, if anyone in your family is exposed to diphtheria,
or if you think that you or a family member is at risk. It's important to remember,
though, that most throat infections are not diphtheria, especially
in countries that have routine immunizations against it.
If you're not sure if your kids have been vaccinated against diphtheria, make
an appointment. Also make sure your own booster immunizations are current. International
studies have shown that a significant percentage of adults over 40 years of age aren't
adequately protected against diphtheria and tetanus.
Date reviewed: February 2016