A 12 yr old child presents with fever and cervical lymphadenopathy for last 36 hours. Oral examination shows a grey membrane on the right tonsil. What is the primary treatment?
High-Yield Explanation
The primary treatment is 20000 -40000 units I/M equine derived antitoxin. Above mentioned clinical signs and symptoms gives a presumptive diagnosis of Diphtheria. Treatment of diphtheria: - Equine derived Antitoxin-which neutralizes the circulating diphtheria toxin. - Moderate cases with <3 days (pharyngeal or laryngeal): 20000 -40000 units I/M. - Serious cases with >= 3days disease: 80,000 -1,20,000 units I/V and I/M combined. - Penicillin Or Erythromycin to be given for 2 weeks for eradication of bacterium from throat Isolation of the patient for 48 hrs.