25 November 2007
What is Diptheria?
Diptheria is a serious disease caused by bacteria, which enter our body through the mouth and nose and infects the throat first. The infection may spread into the larynx, thereby blocking the air passage. In this, a person experiences sore throat and fever. The heart and nerves may also get seriously damaged. Diptheria is caused by a tiny, rod shaped bacillus which produces the toxin, the main factor causing the disease. It attacks mainly children, within the age group of two to five. The antitoxin, which can prevent the serious poisonous effects of the disease, was invented by Enil von Behring in 1890. Nowadays, there are very rare cases of diphtheria due to the usage of preventive measures. The injection prescribed for this produces antibodies in our body and protects the body from these bacteria.