Diphtheria: meaning, definitions and examples
๐ฅ
diphtheria
[ หdษชfหฮธษชษrษชษ ]
medical condition
Diphtheria is a serious bacterial infection that primarily affects the throat and nose. It is caused by the bacterium Corynebacterium diphtheriae. When a person is infected, a thick membrane can form in the throat, leading to difficulty breathing, heart failure, and sometimes death if left untreated. Vaccination has significantly reduced the incidence of diphtheria in many parts of the world, but it is still a concern in regions with low vaccination rates.
Synonyms
Corynebacterium infection
Examples of usage
- The doctor diagnosed her with diphtheria.
- Children are vaccinated against diphtheria in their early years.
- Diphtheria can lead to severe complications if not treated promptly.
Translations
Translations of the word "diphtheria" in other languages:
๐ต๐น difteria
๐ฎ๐ณ เคเคธเคฐเคพ
๐ฉ๐ช Diphtherie
๐ฎ๐ฉ difteri
๐บ๐ฆ ะดะธััะตััั
๐ต๐ฑ bลonica
๐ฏ๐ต ใธใใใชใข
๐ซ๐ท diphtรฉrie
๐ช๐ธ difteria
๐น๐ท difteri
๐ฐ๐ท ๋ํํ ๋ฆฌ์
๐ธ๐ฆ ุงูุฎูุงู
๐จ๐ฟ difterie
๐ธ๐ฐ difteria
๐จ๐ณ ็ฝๅ
๐ธ๐ฎ difterija
๐ฎ๐ธ diftรฉria
๐ฐ๐ฟ ะดะธััะตัะธั
๐ฌ๐ช แแแคแขแแ แแ
๐ฆ๐ฟ diftiฬriฬya
๐ฒ๐ฝ difteria
Etymology
The word 'diphtheria' originates from the Greek word 'diphthera', meaning 'leather'. This reflects the characteristic thick, leather-like membrane that forms in the throat of infected individuals. Diphtheria was first recognized in the early 19th century, and its causative agent, Corynebacterium diphtheriae, was identified in the late 1800s. Prior to the development of vaccines in the early 20th century, diphtheria was a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in children. The introduction of widespread immunization programs has led to a dramatic decline in cases, although outbreaks still occur in areas with lower vaccination coverage.