18 cases of diphtheria in city: Officials

“Currently, the cases are reported from the districts that are neighbouring to Andhra Pradesh and we also have patients from Nellore and other districts in Andhra Pradesh. Most of the cases are among the adolescents who have missed on the vaccine after the age of 5 years. More than 18 patients have been treated at the hospital, while two others are under observation,” said Dr Jeyachandran, director, Institute of Child Health.

The hospital authorities say that the main reason behind the spurt of cases is lack of immunisation against diphtheria. Even the doctors at the hospital are instructed to stay immunised against diphtheria.

The patients with initial symptoms of fever and sore throat are being tested for diphtheria and all those susceptible for the infection are being immunised. “We are taking up immunisation of all the patients and even the hospital staff who are working with these patients. After the children start going to school, parents tend to forget the need for vaccination and this is why the infection is striking back, which was expected to have been eliminated. We are treating the patients with the available antibiotics and vaccines,” added Dr Jeyachandran.

After an alert in Coimbatore and Erode over diphtheria cases, the health department has initiated immunisation programme against diphtheria. The senior state health department officials say that the outbreak is in control and more than 2.5 lakh vaccines are being administered throughout the state. “The cases are being treated symptomatically, meanwhile, we have urged the district healthcare officials of the respective districts. We urge the public to get immunised against the infection if they have not received four shots of vaccine against diphtheria,” said Dr K Kolandaisamy, public health director.

Two children lost their lives due to diphtheria in Coimbatore in July after various outbreaks were recorded in Coimbatore, Erode and neighbouring districts.

A total of 40 cases were reported in Coimbatore in various localities including Sathyamangalam, Talavadi hills, Puliyampatti and Kadambur hills, while 10 cases in Erode.

Diphtheria is a bacterial infection that affects the wind-pipe, throat and other organs subsequently. Patients affected by diphtheria usually come with symptoms such as sore throat, fever, swollen glands and weakness of the body. The infection is caused by corynebacterium diphtheria that affects the mucous membranes of nose and throat. The infection is easily preventable using vaccines and usually, the first shot against diphtheria- DTaP is given to a child after 10 weeks from birth, and a follow up booster dose of DT vaccine at 10 months of age. Tdap vaccine is supposed to be given after the age of 11 and 19 against diphtheria.