Discovery of a new case of diphtheria, a condition believed to have been eradicated

Eduardo Najar
Latin Agency for News Medicine and Public Health

The scientific community is totally appalled by the development of an anomaly that has not been present in the pediatric population for 20 years

There are many pathologies that thanks to medical and scientific advances are usually eradicated for a certain time, however, a new manifestation of this neoplasm can create shock due to a new origin or trigger of the disease, on the other hand, there is the risk that from some agent the pathogen can change and become stronger.

The case of diphtheria has somewhat distressed Peruvian healthcare entities, as this condition had not manifested itself for several years when the last case was diagnosed. Recently a five-year-old boy was infected with this viral agent and it is believed that the reason is due to a lack of regulation in vaccination and necessary medical reinforcements, the girl lives in one of the least favored and poor municipalities in the region; In this case, the authorities have initiated a health plan to prevent further infections in the area.

Pathogen diphtheria

Diphtheria is a bacterial infection that usually affects the lining of the nose and throat. The condition is usually treated with medication, but when it manifests critically it can affect other systems and even organs such as the nervous system, heart, and kidneys.

Symptoms that most patients have are usually pain in the throat, swollen and inflamed lymph nodes, difficulty breathing (inhaling and exhaling), runny nose, fever and chills, and finally discomfort and fatigue that includes the whole body.

Infectology

This condition is very common in vulnerable areas that do not have a stable health policy and adequate medical access, as its main method of prevention is vaccination, which is why many governments and especially health agencies are looking for a way to implement days of administration of the medicine to prevent this pathogen and others such as the flu.

Most of the time, people contract diphtheria due to small droplet particles remaining in the air of a technically carrier person, as well as contact with items that have the bacteria Corynebacterium diphtheria they can be a risk factor for the individual to be infected.

It is important that the vaccination method is considered as the main weapon to avoid the spread of some viral agents that can bring with them various chronic comorbidities and affect the quality of life of patients, it is also necessary that medical accessibility is guaranteed to all people and thus improve public health.

Source:

BBC news. Diphtheria: confirm the first case in Peru 20 years after the eradication of the disease. Available at: https://www.bbc.com/mundo/noticias-america-latina-54718771