Throat disease “Diphtheria” is spreading rapidly throughout Pakistan. The federal government has directed the provinces to take emergency measures to stop the spread of the disease.
In this context, the National Health Organization has also sent a letter to the provinces regarding diphtheria. In the statement issued by the National Health Organization, it has been said that diphtheria cases and deaths are being reported in different cities, it is a deadly bacterial infection caused by a toxic substance and effective surveillance should be ensured in this regard.
Diphtheria damages the membranes of the nose, throat, and throat, causing inflammation of the throat and upper respiratory tract of an infected patient, while its germs can be transmitted from one person to another. According to the National Institute of Health, the symptoms of diphtheria begin to appear in the patient in two to five days. Severe cough, wheezing and shortness of breath, fever, sore throat, cold, runny nose and congestion are all symptoms of diphtheria. There may also be a significant decrease in the number of platelets.
According to the National Institutes of Health, 10 percent of diphtheria patients die if treatment is delayed, and the death rate from diphtheria in non-vaccinated individuals is 5 to 17 percent. Unvaccinated elderly people may be at greater risk from diphtheria. Unvaccinated children under the age of five are also more susceptible to diphtheria. There is a risk of diphtheria spreading among people living in crowded places.
According to the National Institute of Health, citizens have been instructed to get timely vaccination to prevent diphtheria. Diagnostic testing for diphtheria is available in the country and NIH is testing suspected diphtheria samples free of charge. On the other hand, in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, this disease has spread due to non-completion of the course of immunization against various diseases of children. This year 26 children have lost their lives due to this disease.
According to the data of the ‘Integrated Disease Surveillance Response System’ of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Health Department, more than 380 children have been affected by diphtheria in the province this year. Diphtheria outbreak has affected 228 union councils in 27 districts including Peshawar, Mardan, Kohat, DI Khan, Bannu, mostly children as well as elderly people.
District Peshawar is leading in terms of diphtheria deaths, where 12 children have died the most. Three each in Nowshera and Charsadda, while two children died in Mohmand district. According to sources, 75 percent of the children who lost their lives are five years old and above. According to Director EPI Dr. Asghar, the affected children had not completed the prenatal immunization courses. In the province, children are currently being vaccinated against 12 deadly diseases.
Anti-diphtheria serum is also available in abundance for diphtheria-infected children, but parents should cooperate with the government in this regard, because only the initial vaccinations of children are administered by parents, but the subsequent vaccinations are given. They don’t bring their children for this, which is not eliminating the diseases that can be easily protected by vaccines, but these deadly diseases are also endangering the lives of children.
Speaking in this regard, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Health Advisor Ehtesham Ali said that a review report on diphtheria has been submitted in the province. The purpose of the report is to spread awareness about epidemics like diphtheria by taking the public and media into confidence, the situation will not be controlled until parents give their children vaccines against twelve deadly diseases including diphtheria. Parents across the province in general and Peshawar parents in particular are requested to give their children diphtheria vaccine. According to the report, 383 cases of diphtheria have been reported so far from 228 union councils of 27 districts of the province.
91% of these positive cases are children who have not been vaccinated against diphtheria. This year, this deadly epidemic broke out 27 times in Peshawar, Mardan, DI Khan, Bannu, Kohat, Charsadda, Haripur and Swabi. 75% of children affected by diphtheria are above five years of age, 26 cases of diphtheria deaths have been reported this year.
The disease is transmitted from one child to another due to which it is spreading rapidly, immediate vaccination of children and social distancing from each other is the only solution. There is plenty of anti-diphtheria serum in the province, parents should take their children to the relevant health centers in any case.
Why is vaccination important?
Today, young children are more susceptible to diphtheria, a disease that usually affects the nasal and throat passages. According to the World Health Organization, the mortality rate of this disease is about 30 percent. Diphtheria is actually a disease caused by cyanobacteria. Due to the cyanobacteria diphtheria infection, tissue damage is localized and there are several types.
The body of people suffering from this disease releases toxic substances that enter the blood stream. It is an infectious disease. If it reaches a person through the air, then the other person is also covered by it, it is called infection droplets.
If a person suffers from diphtheria, it can be fatal despite treatment. Symptoms include sore throat, whitish spots on the tonsils and throat wall and palate, swelling and enlargement of the glands, difficulty breathing, fever or chills, feeling tired, runny nose, loss of appetite and phlegm. The discharge sometimes includes a bloody mucus discharge.
When a person is infected with this infection, the symptoms of the disease begin to appear in two to five days, but the duration of its spread is one to 10 days. Once the disease enters the human body, its bacteria release two types of toxins, called toxin A and toxin B.
Toxin B adheres to the human body and helps toxin A enter the cells of the body and this toxin is the main cause of this disease. These toxins work very quickly, while the human body tries to fight them in response. This physical reaction is called the immune system and it is the immune system that works through the vaccine and immediately tries to fight the disease. The disease usually resolves in seven to 10 days if it is not severe, but the effects of severe disease persist for about six weeks.
If a person experiences the above symptoms of diphtheria, they should immediately contact a specialist doctor, if this disease is not diagnosed and treated on time, it can be fatal. If the disease is diagnosed then complete rest is required for full recovery along with medical treatment. Diarrhea patients should avoid any physical exertion.
In case of diphtheria there may be difficulty in swallowing food, so soft foods should be used. Apart from this, foods rich in vitamins can also be used. Frequent hand washing and gargling with lukewarm water is essential to limit the spread of infection. Diphtheria is a bacterial infection that can be very serious but can be prevented by vaccination.
Vaccines that are given to prevent diphtheria are called “dop”. In this context, giving the first vaccine at 6 to 8 weeks, the second after a month and the third at 5, 6 months of age is part of the EPI program. The first 3 doses are followed by a fourth dose at 15 to 18 months, usually administered privately. Then the fifth dose is given at 4 to 5 years of age and the sixth dose after 10 years, as if the complete vaccination program consists of 6 doses.
