SERUM ANTI DIPHTHERIAE SHALL BE IMMEDIATELY USED UPON SUSPICION OF INFECTION
On July 10, 2020, the Ministry of Health issues the Decision No. 2957/QD-BYT on promulgating the guidance on diagnosis and treatment of diphtheria.
Accordingly, the incubation period of diphtheria is from 2 – 5 days without any clinical symptoms. In the initial symptom period, patients often have fever with 37.5 - 38oC, sore throat, malaise, weakness, eat less, have bluish skin and nasal discharge from one or both nares with blood or not. In the second to third day of the duration of the disease, patients have fever with 38 - 38.5oC, pain with swallowing, pale skin, much weakness, anorexia, fast pulse, slightly lower blood pressure, etc.
Besides, treatment principles include: Early detection, isolation upon detecting infected case; Immediately using serum anti diphtheriae (SAD) and antibiotics (penicillin G, erythromycin, azithromycin) to prevent from complications and reduce death; Monitoring, early detecting and timely handling complications; Providing comprehensive care to patients.
To be specific: Using SAD immediately upon suspicion of infection. Dosage of SAD shall be depended on the seriousness of the disease, regardless of the age and weight. It is required to test before injection, if the result is positive, the desensitization method (Besredka) shall be applied, etc.
In addition, all suspected cases must be sent to hospital for isolation until their testing result is negative for two times. Each specimen is taken 24 hours apart and no later than 24 hours after antibiotic treatment. If conditions for testing are not available, patients must be isolated after 14 days of antibiotic treatment, etc.
This Decision takes effect on the signing date.
