Diphtheria Antitoxin

Product Details:

• B.No.: 04AD16004
• Mfg: 09/16
• Exp: 08/18
• Mfg Lic No.: 01/MN/AP/03/Sera/G
• Include all taxes

• Diphtheria is a bacterial disease caused by Corynebacterium diphtheriae.
• The infection commonly affects the throat and may lead to obstruction of the airways and death.
• Exotoxin-induced damage occurs to organs such as the heart.
• Nasal diphtheria may be mild, and chronic carriage of the organism frequently occurs; asymptomatic infections are common.
• Transmission is from person to person, through droplets and close physical contact, and is increased in overcrowded and poor socioeconomic conditions.
• A cutaneous form of diphtheria is common in tropical countries and may be important in transmission of the infection.

• Diphtheria affects people of all ages, but most often it strikes unimmunized children.
• In temperate climates, diphtheria tends to occur during the colder months.
• In 2000, 30000 cases and 3000 deaths of diphtheria were reported worldwide.

• The symptoms of diphtheria usually begin two to seven days after infection.
• Symptoms of diphtheria include fever, chills, fatigue, bluish skin coloration, sore throat, hoarseness, cough, headache, difficulty swallowing, painful swallowing, difficulty breathing, rapid breathing, foul-smelling bloodstained nasal discharge and lymphadenopathy.
• Symptoms can also include cardiac arrhythmias, myocarditis, and cranial and peripheral nerve palsies.

• Patients with severe cases will be put in a hospitalintensive care unit and be given a diphtheria antitoxin.
• Diphtheria antitoxin is hyperimmune serum Produced in horses.
• Plasma obtained from healthy horses with diphtheria toxin is enzyme refined, purified and concentrated.
• The antitoxin has the specific capacity of neutralizing the toxin secreted by Corynebacterium diphdheriae, the causative organism of Diphtheria.
• Antitoxin will only neutralize circulating toxin that is not yet bound to tissue, thus prompt administration is critical.
• Delayed administration increases the risk oflate effects such as myocarditis and neuritis.
• Before antitoxin is administered, the patient should be tested for sensitivity to horse serum and if necessary,desensitized.
• The dose of antitoxin to be administered depends upon the site and extent of the diphtheritic membrane, the degree of toxicity and the duration of illness.
• Prevention: Toxoid as DTP, DT or Td - at least three primary doses given.