Corynebacterium diphtheriae
Diphtheria is a highly dangerous disease caused by Corynebacterium diphtheriae, but can be prevented by giving three times injection of diphtheria prevention in order to make a child becomes immune from diphtheria. Often, the injection of diphtheria prevention given together with tetanus and whooping cough disease prevention. Children under three months are rarely infected by diphtheria because they’ve strong immune system which inherited from their mother.
Next, children over three moths must be given injection of diphtheria prevention. Children will be completely healed after two until seven days had been infected by diphtheria microbe. Symptoms of diphtheria are sore throat, hoarseness, body weakness, and headache. Body temperature is not too high and about 38° to 39°C. Single unique diphtheria symptom is the emergence of the white layer around the tonsils and throat. That white layer will be strongly stuck on throat mucous membrane, and will cause bleeding if removed.
Time over time children will be difficult to swallow because of pain in the throat and its mucous membrane becomes swollen. This disease will be very dangerous if it covers the respiratory tract, therefore a child will be died soon because of lack of oxygen. Besides, diphtheria also attacks heart. So, it is necessary to bring children to a doctor if they’re suffering from sore throat and hoarseness.
Download: Parent’s Guide to Childhood Immunization (Preventing Diphtheria and Tetanus)
