Diphtheria is a bacterial infection, which is contagious. It involves the nose and throat and can have serious complications involving the heart, which may even lead potentially to death. The condition spreads by sneezes and coughs or can be transferred by having contact with a person who has diphtheria or with items belonging to those persons like clothing or bedding. There is a vaccination against diphtheria.
Diphtheria is an infectious disease that is transmitted via moisture droplets. The bacteria (Corynebacerium diphteriae) mostly affects the nose and throat. The bacteria produces toxins, released into its surroundings and when absorbed by the gastrointestinal tract, it can lead to serious heart and nervous system complications and may even lead to death. The disease can be fought with a vaccination in childhood. It’s important to get vaccinated against diphtheria before and after the infection in order to prevent common complications.
Two to five days after becoming infected by the bacterium, a whitish-yellow covering forms over the tonsils. The tonsils may also be framed with red, but they generally do not hurt. The covering can turn greyish or brown, but can bleed if attempts to remove it are made. A sweetish smell may come from the mouth. At this stage the lymph nodes in the throat swell considerably. Additionally, patients complain of difficulty swallowing, nausea and vomiting, exhaustion, and joint issues. Fever is often associated. Exotoxins (see above) can also cause inflammation of the heart muscle (myocarditis). This serious condition can lead to heart rhythm disorders and in extreme cases it can lead to cardiac arrest.
A suspected diphtheria infection can be confirmed by swabbing the throat and identifying pathogens. Early antibiotic and antitoxin treatment can improve the course of the disease. A daily ECG should be performed to identify possible heart rhythm disorders. The patient needs to be isolated until a third throat swab shows negative.
Several years of work in academia, medical practice and finally commercialization make it possible to provide an end-to-end process to help users to “find the appropriate medical help based on their present symptoms”. Below you will find a short explanation, showing you which part of the platform will help you best in finding the appropriate medical support.
Proceed as follows to enter your current symptoms.
Click on the appropriate body part on the picture. Select one/multiple symptoms corresponding to your complaint.
You can also add symptoms by typing your medical complaint in the search box and selecting the best matching suggestion.
Note: Your information will be kept anonymously.
Once you have selected all applicable symptoms, click the “analyze disease pattern”-button.
Accordingly, you will get a list of possible diseases and matching doctor categories who can further help you.
You can inform yourself about the possible diseases by reading the related information. But you can also return to the previous step and add more symptoms or delete already added ones to further narrow down your disease pattern.
Click on the desired doctor category to find a doctor who can help you.
If you are logged in with your profile, you will be displayed the appropriate doctors in your area. Otherwise you can enter an address in the “address” field and you will be displayed a doctor’s list around that specified address.
You will receive further information about the displayed doctors when you press on “details”.
Online bookable doctors in your area will be indicated with the notation “Book appointment” or “Book externally”, additionally they will be displayed on top of the list for your convenience.
Click on “Book appointment” to start the online appointment booking process with the desired doctor.
Please select an available appointment. “Green“ appointments are booked directly. “Red“ appointments need to be confirmed by the doctor.
Enter your general personal and health information.
Enter your present medical symptoms.
Enter your mobile phone number to identify yourself and you can finalize the appointment booking.
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