A child in Australia has been infected by a fatal disease that many thoughts had been wiped off the map, however, it has returned and infected a two-year-old from northern North South Wales who developed diphtheria of the throat and is now being taken care of in an intensive care unit.
Since the ailment hasn’t been present in NSW for more than a century, individuals who are prone to it are understandably alarmed.
According to a statement from the Northern NSW Health District the Queensland hospital is currently hosting the infected child. The two-year-old who contracted the disease however had not been vaccinated against diphtheria.
Director of North Coast Public Health Dr. Paul Douglas said, “Diphtheria is very rare in Australia due to our longstanding childhood immunization program. However, the disease has very serious outcomes and can be fatal.”
Diphtheria is a contagious and potentially deadly bacterial infection. It affects the throat and tonsils in its most severe form, resulting in a greyish-white membrane forming that can make it hard to swallow and breathe. Coughing and sneezing can spread it from person to person through the air. Because the bacteria can survive on surfaces, spreading disease-causing particles from an infected person exposes others to the danger of contracting it.
In NSW, doctors are presently making every effort to preserve the child’s life. The infant is receiving antitoxin treatment, medicine, and breathing support. To assist stop the spread of the bacterial infection, close family members and others who work with the child have been immunized and given antibiotics.
If necessary, Dr. Douglas said that parents should get their little ones a jab for diphtheria if they have not yet had it, as he urged them to check their children’s immunization status. Claiming that he did not want people in the surrounding community to be alarmed, “The diphtheria vaccination is free and readily available from your GP for everyone from six weeks of age. It is important everyone keeps up to date with their vaccinations,” he said.
In NSW this century, there have been no further instances of diphtheria of the throat documented. However, there have been a few infrequent reports of less severe cases. The majority of them have included skin infections. As NSW Health reports that diphtheria used to be a common cause of infant mortality up until the 1940s, but it currently mostly affects nations with low immunization rates.
Given the high incidence of immunization in Australia, it is exceedingly unusual for a case of diphtheria to emerge suddenly. Instead, the illness primarily affects nations with poor levels of herd immunity and vaccination priorities. The severity of diphtheria symptoms varies depending on where the infection is located, although the tonsils and throat are typically affected. The illness frequently causes children to have a sore throat, lose their appetite, and develop a moderate temperature. But after two to three days, things start to alter. A white-gray membrane covers the throat at that point, which may make it challenging for the infant to swallow.
The diphtheria immunization for adults comes along with tetanus, pertussis, and whooping cough shots.
Sources: AWM, Medicaldaily
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