What it means
An infection that spreads through respiratory droplets and contact. The bacteria make a toxin that can form a thick gray coating (pseudomembrane) in the throat that may block the airway, and the toxin can also damage the heart and nerves. It is rare where children are vaccinated: the DTaP and Tdap vaccines protect against it, along with tetanus and pertussis.
For the nurse
Check vaccine records. A client with throat diphtheria is placed on droplet precautions; watch the airway closely. Treatment is diphtheria antitoxin and antibiotics.
At a glance
| Spanish | difteria |
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Related terms
vaccine
A product that trains the immune system to protect the body against a specific disease.
pertussis
A very contagious infection of the airways caused by the bacterium Bordetella pertussis; also called whooping cough.
droplet precautions
Infection control steps, used with standard precautions, for germs spread by large droplets from coughing, sneezing or talking.