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A diphtheria outbreak in Assam, India.
Lahari Saikia1, Reema Nath, Naba Jyoti Saikia
1Department of Microbiology, Assam Medical College, Dibrugarh-786002, Assam, India. lahari.saikia@yahoo.com
Summary
A 2009 diphtheria outbreak in Assam, India, affected 13 adults, causing a high fatality rate. Lack of antidiphtheric serum (ADS) complicated treatment during this infectious disease event.
Area of Science:
- Infectious Diseases
- Epidemiology
- Public Health
Background:
- Diphtheria, a bacterial infection caused by Corynebacterium diphtheriae, typically affects the respiratory tract.
- Outbreaks can occur, especially in areas with lower vaccination rates.
- Adult cases of diphtheria are less common but can be severe.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe the epidemiology and clinical features of a diphtheria outbreak in adults in Assam, India.
- To highlight the challenges in managing diphtheria without access to essential treatments like antidiphtheric serum (ADS).
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of 13 confirmed diphtheria cases in adults.
- Clinical data collection including symptoms, age, sex, and outcomes.
- Analysis of case fatality rate and observed complications.
Main Results:
- 13 adult cases (8 male, 5 female) with a mean age of 21.8 years were confirmed between May and July 2009.
- Common symptoms included low-grade fever, sore throat, and tonsillar pseudomembranes.
- The case fatality rate was 30.8%, with one case experiencing neurological complications. Antidiphtheric serum (ADS) was unavailable for all patients.
Conclusions:
- This outbreak underscores the risk of diphtheria in adults, even in the post-childhood vaccination era.
- The high case fatality rate emphasizes the critical need for prompt diagnosis and availability of antidiphtheric serum (ADS).
- Public health strategies must address potential diphtheria resurgence in adult populations.
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