Diphtheria

[ellebelle94]

What happens if diphtheria is left untreated?

Thanks :) x

[welshlibranr]

no idea elle sorry, know that we were immunised against it when I was a child, but never hear of it nowadays!...

[Eve]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/...ons/diphtheria1.shtml

[Mamyalynne]

In cases that progress beyond a throat infection, diphtheria toxin spreads through the bloodstream and can lead to potentially life-threatening complications that affect other organs of the body, such as the heart and kidneys. The toxin can cause damage to the heart that affects its ability to pump blood or the kidneys' ability to clear wastes. It can also cause nerve damage, eventually leading to paralysis. About 40% to 50% of those left untreated can die.

[Buenchico]

Symptoms:
http://www.nhs.uk/Con...a/Pages/Symptoms.aspx
and possibly fatal complications:
http://www.nhs.uk/Con...es/Complications.aspx

Chris

[pretty_snowdrop]

In my grans day, kids died from diphtheria.

[New Judge]

Very often (though not always) the patient dies. The disease sometimes causes paralysis of the respiratory muscles, which is not a favourable development.

[dzug2]

They still do in parts of the world where it is common

[e.crespo]

My brother died at eleven months old before a vaccine was available.

[masma]

2 of my sisters were in isolation a young children, both suffered weak chests as they got older.

[LoftyLottie]

My mum had diphtheria at age 9. Lucky to survive.

[crisgal]

mine too lottie. she missed a year of school and had to stay in the same year.