100 Grapevine Hwy Hurst TX 76054

Diphtheria Treatment in Hurst, TX

Diphtheria specialist in Hurst, TX

*WARNING: this condition is potentially life-threatening. If you or someone you know is experiencing these symptoms, don't wait. Call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room right away.*

Do you or your child have swollen glands, fever, and a sore throat? Are you struggling to breathe because thick gray mucus is partially blocking your airway? You may have diphtheria, a rare but potentially fatal bacterial infection.

This illness is quite rare in the US and other developed nations since the introduction of an effective vaccine. But you're at a greater risk of getting diphtheria if you were never vaccinated, especially if you've recently traveled to a place where diphtheria is endemic, such as Central or South America, Africa, or Asia. Even if you or your child was vaccinated, your safety isn't 100% guaranteed.

If you or your child is experiencing these symptoms, don't wait—call your medical provider or get to the nearest emergency room right away. Severe cases of diphtheria may interfere with breathing and can cause heart, kidney, and nerve damage. Extreme cases can be fatal.

To speak with a diphtheria specialist today in Hurst, call (817) 203-2760 or contact Ms. Jessica Stangenwald online.

What are the symptoms of diphtheria?

Diphtheria symptoms resemble those of colds, flu, or other respiratory infections. These include:

  • sore throat
  • coughing
  • hoarseness
  • difficulty breathing
  • swollen neck glands
  • stuffy or runny nose
  • fever
  • chills

The most telling symptom is a thick gray membrane covering the inside of your throat, especially around your tonsils. This membrane can cause difficulty breathing, making you or your child gasp for air.

Symptoms typically appear 2-5 days after you've been infected. Some people show only mild symptoms, or they may show no symptoms at all. However, you can infect others even if you show no symptoms.

A second type, called skin diphtheria, causes pain, redness, and swelling in the affected area. Ulcers covered with a gray membrane may also develop. This type is more common in tropical climates, but it can appear anywhere, usually among people who live in crowded, unhygienic conditions.

If you or your child is having trouble breathing, don't wait—get to the nearest emergency room immediately. Breathing assistance may be necessary in order to prevent dramatic complications that could be life-threatening.

What causes diphtheria?

Diphtheria is caused by bacteria called Corynebacterium diphtheriae, or C. diphtheriae. These bacteria multiply on or near your throat's mucous membranes. They spread by airborne droplets or by handling contaminated objects. If you or your child haven't been vaccinated, you're susceptible to getting diphtheria.

When an infected person sneezes or coughs, droplets carrying the bacteria are released. If you inhale these droplets, or if they touch your nose, mouth, or eyes, you can get infected. This is especially dangerous in crowded situations because the bacteria can spread rapidly.

You can also catch diphtheria if you touch something an infected person handled and you don't wash your hands or use hand sanitizer, then touch your nose, mouth, or eyes. These objects include doorknobs, pens, keyboards, used tissues, drinking glasses, or anything else that may have infected droplets on it.

You can contract skin diphtheria if you come into contact with an infected wound and touch your eyes, mouth, or nose, or an open wound of your own.

Infected people who haven't been treated can infect people for up to 6 weeks, even if they don't show any symptoms.

How is diphtheria diagnosed?

Diagnosis is usually simple and straightforward. Your provider will take a sample from your throat and send it for lab analysis. If skin diphtheria is suspected, your provider will take a skin sample and send it for diagnosis.

If your provider suspects diphtheria, you can expect treatment to begin immediately. Due to diphtheria's potentially dangerous complications, providers dealing with the disease rarely if ever wait for lab results before starting treatment.

If left untreated, diphtheria can cause very dangerous complications. The bacteria can produce a toxin that coats your throat and tonsils, potentially blocking your breathing.

This toxin can spread through your blood and damage tissues, including your heart muscles. This can lead to inflammation of the heart called myocarditis, a dangerous condition that may cause anything from minor damage to congestive heart failure and death.

Nerve damage is another potential complication. The diphtheria toxin can target nerves in your throat, and poor nerve conduction can make swallowing difficult or impossible. The toxin may also target nerves in your arms and legs, causing muscle weakness, or in your chest, paralyzing the muscles responsible for breathing. Left unchecked, the patient may die from suffocation.

Diphtheria is fatal in about 3% of cases.

How is diphtheria treated?

Because diphtheria is a very serious illness, providers respond to it aggressively. The earlier it's treated, the better the chances of avoiding serious complications are. That's why getting medical attention right away is crucial for a fast, uncomplicated recovery.

First, you'll likely be given an allergy test to make sure you aren't allergic to the antitoxin. If you are allergic, you'll be slowly desensitized by your provider giving you small doses of the antitoxin, then increasing the dosage. This antitoxin injection will neutralize the toxin inside your body.

Antibiotics like penicillin or erythromycin will be your main treatment. These kill the diphtheria bacteria, reducing the length of time you'll be ill down to just a few days and attempting to prevent further complications.

If the mucus is blocking your breathing, your doctor may attempt to remove it.

The diphtheria antitoxin was made by extracting blood from horses exposed to small amounts of diphtheria toxin. Once vaccination helped prevent the disease, demand for the equine antitoxin began falling steadily. The number of companies willing to make the antitoxin dwindled; today, none distribute it internationally.

Research teams at MassBiologics have identified a much safer human antibody to diphtheria toxin. Instead of making it by bleeding horses kept in stables, researchers developed cell cultures that produce this antibody consistently and cleanly in sterilized steel tanks. Preclinical testing has proven that this new antibody neutralizes the diphtheria toxin. Clinical trials are ongoing and are being studied by the World Health Organization.

Your home treatment will be similar to recovering from a cold or the flu. Getting bed rest, drinking lots of fluids, and avoiding infecting other people is recommended. Making sure all surfaces and objects are disinfected will help stop diphtheria from spreading.

Preventing diphtheria by getting vaccinated is the best way of avoiding the disease. All people, including children, should receive a diphtheria vaccine as soon as possible. Speak with your healthcare provider about getting the diphtheria vaccine, and always consult with your provider about aftercare and follow-up.

Reserve Your Appointment Now

While diphtheria is a rare condition in the US and most developed nation, you're at risk if you've never been vaccinated, especially if you travel to nations where the disease is more common. If you suspect you or your child has diphtheria, don't wait—seek medical attention right away. If you or your child is having trouble breathing, get to an emergency room immediately.

To speak with a diphtheria specialist today in Hurst, call (817) 203-2760 or contact Ms. Jessica Stangenwald online.

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Hours and Directions
The New You Medical & Infusion Clinic
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Address

100 Grapevine Hwy
Hurst, TX 76054
(817) 203-2760
https://www.newyoumedclinic.com/

Hours

Mon: 10:00 am - 6:00 pm
Tue: 10:00 am - 6:00 pm
Wed: 10:00 am - 6:00 pm
Thu: 10:00 am - 6:00 pm
Fri: Closed
Sat: Closed
Sun: Closed

Areas We Service:

Tarrant County, TX, DFW, TX, Las Colinas, TX, Carrollton, TX, Dallas, TX, Irving, TX, Richardson, TX, Sunnyvale, TX, Frisco, TX, Roanoke, TX, Weatherford, TX, Arlington, TX, Bedford, TX, Colleyville, TX, Euless, TX, Fort Worth, TX, Grapevine, TX, Haltom City, TX, Keller, TX, North Richland Hills, TX, Southlake, TX, Watauga, TX