DIPHTHERIA

PREPARED BY:
PATRICIA JOHANNA A. TAN, BSN 3A
DEFINITION Diphtheria (dif-THEER-e-uh) is a
serious bacterial infection that
usually affects the mucous
membranes of your nose and
throat.
The “strangling angel of children,”
as diphtheria was once called, can
be traced to the fourth-to-fifth
century BC and was one of the
most common causes of death
among children in the prevaccine
era.
CAUSATIVE AGENT
strains of bacteria called Corynebacterium diphtheriae that make toxin (poison)
INCUBATION The incubation period for diphtheria is
2 to 5 days, with a range of 1 to 10
PERIOD days. Disease can involve almost any
mucous membrane. In untreated
people, organisms can be present in
discharges and lesions 2 to 6 weeks
after infection.
SOURCE/MODE OF TRANSMISSION
Diphtheria bacteria spread from person to person, usually through
respiratory droplets, like from coughing or sneezing.
PERIOD OF Untreated patients who are infected
with the diphtheria germ may be
COMMUNICABILITY contagious for up to four weeks. If the
patient is treated appropriately, the
contagious period can be limited to
less than four days.
PATHOPHYSIOLOGY
PATHOGNOMONIC
SIGN
The hallmark of respiratory
diphtheria is the presence of a
tough, grayish-white
pseudomembrane over the
tonsils, nasopharynx, or
larynx. The pseudomembrane
is strongly adherent to the
underlying tissue, and
attempts to dislodge it usually
result in bleeding.
SIGNS &
SYMPTOMS
● a thick grey-white coating at the
back of your throat
● a high temperature (fever) of 38C
or above
● feeling sick
● sore throat
● headache
● swollen glands in your neck
● difficulty breathing and
swallowing
DIAGNOSTIC
TEST
Doctors usually decide if a person has
diphtheria by looking for common signs
and symptoms. They can swab the back of
the throat or nose and test it for the
bacteria that cause diphtheria. A doctor
can also take a sample from an open sore
or ulcer and try and grow the bacteria. If the
bacteria grow and make a toxin (poison),
the doctor can be sure a patient has
diphtheria. However, it takes time to grow
the bacteria, so it is important to start
treatment right away if a doctor suspects
respiratory diphtheria.
 ASSESSMENT
NURSING ● History.
MANAGEMENT ● Physical examination.
DIAGNOSIS
● Hyperthermia related to the
release of an exotoxin.
● Imbalanced nutrition: less than
body requirements related to
painful swallowing.
● Ineffective airway clearance
related to pseudomembrane
blocking the airway.
NURSING PLANNING
MANAGEMENT ● The client will be able to
maintain a normal body
temperature.
● The client will be able to
demonstrate and maintain a
normal body weight.
● The client will be able to
maintain a clear airway.
 INTERVENTION
NURSING
● Improve thermoregulation.
MANAGEMENT ● Improve caloric intake.
● Improve airway clearance.

EVALUATION

● The client was able to maintain a

normal body temperature.
● The client was able to
demonstrate and maintain a
normal body weight.
● The client was able to maintain a
clear airway.
TREATMENT AND
PREVENTION
TREATMENT
● Antibiotics. Antibiotics, such as
penicillin or erythromycin, help kill
bacteria in the body, clearing up
infections.
● An antitoxin. If a doctor suspects
diphtheria, he or she will request a
medication that counteracts the
diphtheria toxin in the body from
the Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention.
PREVENTION
Keeping up to date with recommended vaccines is
the best way to prevent diphtheria. In the United
States, there are four vaccines used to prevent
diphtheria: DTaP, Tdap, DT, and Td. Each of these
vaccines prevents diphtheria and tetanus; DTaP and
Tdap also help prevent pertussis (whooping
cough).
Diphtheria-Pertussis-Tetanus (DPT) vaccine
(Philippines)
AGE: 6-10-14 weeks old
DOSAGE: 0.5cc
ROUTE: intramuscular (IM)
SITE: thigh
REFERENCES:
https://www.health.ny.gov/diseases/communicable/diphtheria/fact_sheet.htm#:~:text=When%20and%20for%20
how%20long,to%20less%20than%20four%20days.

https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/pinkbook/dip.html#:~:text=The%20incubation%20period%20for%20diphther
ia,to%206%20weeks%20after%20infection.

https://www.cdc.gov/diphtheria/index.html#:~:text=Diphtheria%20is%20a%20serious%20infection,and%20adults
%20to%20prevent%20diphtheria.

https://www.cdc.gov/diphtheria/about/diagnosis-treatment.html

https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/surv-manual/chpt01-dip.html

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/diphtheria/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20351903

https://nurseslabs.com/diphtheria/