4 Ways to Manage Diphtheria

1. Visit the Hospital

Diphtheria is rare in the United States because most people receive the diphtheria/tetanus/pertussis inoculation. If you have a diphtheria infection, you either didn't get the vaccine or you didn't finish the full course of vaccines within the appropriate period. Once you contract the disease, you must enter a hospital for isolation and treatment.

2. Treat the Disease

After a throat culture confirms that you have diphtheria, your doctor will administer an antitoxin through an IV. The medicine counterbalances the diphtheria toxin in your body. After you finish that course, your doctor will prescribe antibiotics to destroy the rest of the disease. However, if you waited too long to seek treatment, you may need a ventilator to help you breathe while you take the antibiotics. Your doctor also may administer fluid IVs, heart medication or an oxygen tube to make sure your organs continue to function normally.

3. Facilitate Breathing

If your diphtheria has progressed, your doctor may need to reopen your airway. He can do this with a breathing tube, but you only may need part of the thick, gray membrane removed from your throat so that you can breathe on your own.

4. Go Back to Sleep

Diphtheria extracts a physical toll. Your doctor will order several weeks of bed rest after you finish your medications. Some doctors recommend 4 to 6 weeks of rest, but it depends on your age and general health. You will spend more time in bed if your doctor didn't catch the disease right away; you will need the extra rest to reduce the risk of heart complications.