Ashlei Walker
A-2 Intro to FACS
October 25, 2008
DIPHTHERIA
In the year of 1924, there was a terrible outbreak of a deadly disease in Nome, Alaska.
After a day, the dogsled carrying the medicine rushed into town and the people were saved from
the terrible epidemic. The disease was known as Diphtheria, and its illness has become
increasingly less common as vaccinations become more readily available.
Diphtheria is a highly contagious disease that causes grayish green membrane over the
respiratory system. The puss secretes a toxin into the blood stream which results in damage to the
heart, nervous system, and other organs. Rare cases of Diphtheria may be observed on the skin,
but this is less common. This infectious disease is primarily found in children and can be easily
contracted though respiratory secreations from person to person or spread by a contaminated
surfaces.
Treatment for this disease is simple and easy if a child is to contract Diphtheria. If this
ailment is not quickly treated, it could reasult in system damage or death of cells. A dose of
Penicillin or a seven-day to a ten-day course of erthromycin can treat this disorder quickly and
effectively. Other means of therapy are anitbiotic treatments which result in the elimination of the
organism and termination of further toxin production.
Vaccinations were not introduced until the 20th century which significantly decreased the
incidences of disease in the west. Diphtheria is no longer a widely recognized disease in most
developed countries, like the US where few 10 cases are obsevered per year. Vaccination has
lowered the death rate of this disease which ranged from 30-50% at its peak. Though in
developing countries the disease is prevalent among children due to carriers.
As a result of the descovery of the vaccination, more children have become immune
against contracting this terrible disease.
Ashlei Walker
A-2 Intro to FACS
October 25, 2008
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Book:
Irons-Gorges, Traay, Ed. Magill's Medical Guide. Pasadena, CA: Salem Press, 2005
Website:
"All about Vaccines." FDA. US. Food and Drug Administration. October 8, 2008. http://www.fda.gov/opa.com/kids/html/vaccines.htm
"The Race Against Death". SIRS discoverer. Feb/March 2004. Scholastic Inc. October 8, 2008. http://discoverer.prod.sirs.
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