Diphtheria - an acute respiratory infection or, more rarely, a skin infection, which is caused by the bacterium Corynebacterium diphtheriae and its toxin. This is a serious disease with a high mortality rate, even in Europe.

The bacterium multiplies in the mucous membrane of the throat, nose, or throat and release toxic substance - toxin.

Bacteria and toxins destroy the mucous on it formed plaque, the patient develops a severe sore throat. There may also be difficulty breathing, sometimes suffocation.

Bacterial toxin enters into other parts of the body and can damage the heart and nervous system.

How is diphtheria?

Diphtheria usually transmitted by droplets and contact. Diphtheria can be caught from a person who has no symptoms, but who is a carrier of the bacteria.

Protection from diseases is the immunity against diphtheria - for this and make the vaccine.

Where there is diphtheria?

The bacteria can be found everywhere. But especially diphtheria is common in poor and densely populated areas, where many people have not been vaccinated.

In the early nineties in Russia and the Baltic States for more than 50 thousand people were ill with diphtheria. Later there were localized epidemics in Southeast Asia. In the West, the disease is rare, diphtheria epidemic has not been since the forties, when there was a vaccine. However, isolated cases of diphtheria occur because the immune system Immunity - types and characteristics in children in adults   not at 100% of the population, in addition, many people travel.

What are the symptoms?

The incubation period (the time between infection and the onset of symptoms) varies from two to five days.

Local symptoms include sore throat, coughing, shortness of breath. If the disease affects the skin, scabs appear like impetigo Impetigo - the scourge of kindergartens . Common symptoms - a slight fever, weakness, and fatigue.

After two to six weeks the disease can damage the heart and nervous system - irregular heartbeat and parlich. In the most severe cases of possible cardiac arrest.

In poor countries, mortality is high - up to 30-40%. In developed countries, the death rate of 5-10% - usually due to the fact that in the early stages, diphtheria can be mistaken for other diseases, so sometimes the right treatment begins too late.

How to prevent the disease?

The most important way to prevent the disease - vaccination.

Babies do three vaccinations from 3 to 6 months (in a combination vaccine against diphtheria, pertussis This pest, pest whooping ...   and tetanus). Then, a booster dose at 18 months, then 7 and 14 years old. It is believed that after this person is protected by about 10 years.
  If you are planning a trip to a country where infection is possible diphtheria booster should be done every ten years.

How is it diagnosed?

To diagnose diphtheria, take a swab from the throat mucosa for sowing.

Prospects

If the time to start treatment is quite high probability of cure - the bacteria will be damaged, and the toxin is not time to do serious harm to the body.

Possible long-term complications - paralysis (especially facial muscles), heart rhythm disorders.

To achieve the complete disappearance of diphtheria in the world difficult - especially because the bacteria can be transmitted to people who had been vaccinated and feel healthy.

How to treat diphtheria?

Treatment is carried out in a hospital. To combat the bacterial toxin, a special anti-toxin. To win the actual bacteria, antibiotics are used. The patient is placed in quarantine. And the people in contact with them, should be evaluated. They offer vaccinations and preventive treatment with antibiotics Antibiotics - whether they will help you in the foreseeable future? .

Dysbacteriosis infants can develop for different reasons, and almost always requires treatment. A treatment in turn depends on the causes of goiter caused, ie the underlying disease, which led to the development of dysbiosis. Therefore, a child with suspected goiter survey is conducted.

Causes of dysbiosis in infants

Dysbacteriosis - a violation of the right balance between the normal and the pathogenic microflora of the intestine. Normal intestinal microflora of the child up to a year - it's mostly bifidobacteria. Furthermore, it comprises some Lactobacillus species and E. coli, as well as small colonies of other bacteria. Normal intestinal flora inhibits growth of pathogenic microflora, do not allow the presence in it of pathogenic organisms, activates the immune system, helps the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins (A, D) and calcium (which is the prevention of rickets), it produces vitamins, vital for metabolism.

Pathogenic microflora - are microorganisms, which under certain circumstances can cause disease. It can be activated for any illness and even physiological process associated with decreased immunity (any infection, post-vaccination, teething Teething: hard times   and so on). Pathogenic microflora always cause illness in the baby Baby man, though with a little finger . It inhibits growth of normal microflora colonies of microorganisms, so its role is so important in a child's development.

A healthy baby that is up to one year was breastfed, the right balance between the normal and the pathogenic microflora of the intestine is formed in the first three months. In an ideal health of the mother and child after birth (which is now a rarity), breastfeeding the baby for the first two hours after birth, and a constant presence in the hospital the baby with the mother the right balance between the normal and the pathogenic microflora is formed within the first month of life child.

Proper nutrition of the child up to a year - breast. Plus, starting from 5-6 months of age in a child's diet gradually introduced another, "adult" food. Such food helps maximize rapid formation of normal microflora. But while it is not formed in the child develop symptoms of dysbiosis Symptoms dysbiosis - they should know Who held the first one to three months of life. Many pediatricians believe dysbiosis breastfeeding nonsense, as is simply the formation of intestinal microflora and all the unpleasant symptoms disappear without treatment. However, goiter in the newborn may develop on the background of congenital enzyme deficiency (such as on the background of insufficient secretion of lactase - an enzyme that breaks down milk sugar).

Babies who are bottle-fed, mixtures for supply must choose a doctor. Modern adapted to the different characteristics of the child's body mixture if they are chosen correctly, can its properties closer to breast milk. Yet mother's milk is still considered the best nutrition for a child up to a year -disbakterioz infants in this case, a short-term transitory nature.

When the child stops receiving breast milk and completely converted to "adult" food, it again becomes vulnerable to the formation of dysbiosis, so its power in this period should also be assigned a doctor.

Symptoms in infants dysbiosis

As symptoms goiter in infants divided into three levels:

• 1 degree - compensated; can flow seamlessly and pass on their own; but under the influence of various factors can move to the next level;
• 2 degree - subcompensated;
• 3 degree - asthma.

Dysbacteriosis 2 degrees in infants appears bloating associated with increased gas (flatulence). A large amount of gas in the intestine of the child is formed by cleavage of the wrong food. The baby's tummy swells usually in 1, 5 hours after feeding, and accompanied by painful spasms of smooth muscles of the intestine. Pain These are acute paroxysmal in nature (intestinal colic). The child comes from crying, and calming Sucitu legs only after passing flatus.

Symptoms in infants dysbiosis - it is also a frequent regurgitation, a chair with a strong sour smell, frothy stools. Sometimes these children are concerned constipation, the child with the restless, not breastfeeding, groans, his bouts of disturbed intestinal colic. Intestinal bacteria overgrowth in infants 3 degrees accompanied by intoxication, underweight, growth and psychological development.

Than to treat goiter in infants

How and what to treat goiter in infants determined by the physician based on the results of preliminary examinations (analysis on a dysbacteriosis in infants - a coprogram or general analysis of feces How to pass a stool, so as not to spoil it   and sowing fecal bacteria overgrowth).

Treatment of dysbiosis in infants depends on the degree of dysbiosis and general condition of the child.

Galina Romanenko