✅ Name:
Diphtheria Antitoxin (As Licensed)
📄 Description:
Diphtheria Antitoxin is a biological product derived from horse serum (equine origin) that contains antibodies against the toxin produced by Corynebacterium diphtheriae. It is used to neutralize the circulating diphtheria toxin in infected patients.
💊 Prescription/Use:
- Indication: Treatment of clinical diphtheria to neutralize the effects of the toxin.
- Route of administration: Usually intravenous (IV) or intramuscular (IM).
- Dosage: Depends on the severity, duration of illness, and site of infection (e.g., pharyngeal, laryngeal, nasal, or cutaneous diphtheria).
- Must be administered under medical supervision and after sensitivity testing due to risk of allergic reaction to horse serum.
🔬 Nature:
- Type: Passive immunization.
- Source: Equine-derived immunoglobulin.
- Form: Sterile solution for injection.
🌟 Advantages:
- Neutralizes diphtheria toxin quickly.
- Reduces complications like myocarditis, neuropathy, and airway obstruction.
- Effective even before antibiotic therapy takes full effect.
- Saves lives in severe cases when administered early.
📦 Common Packaging:
- Available in vials (usually 10,000 to 100,000 units).
- Comes with diluent (if lyophilized) and instructions for reconstitution/use.
- Often packaged with an information leaflet on sensitivity testing.
🧊 Storage:
- Store between 2°C to 8°C (refrigerated).
- Do not freeze.
- Keep away from light.
- Check for expiry date and clarity of solution before use.
⚠️ Precautions:
- Sensitivity test (intradermal or conjunctival) required before administration.
- Epinephrine and resuscitation facilities should be available due to risk of anaphylaxis or serum sickness.
- Monitor for allergic reactions (rash, fever, joint pain, etc.).
- Do not use if the solution is cloudy or contains particulate matter.
👩⚕️ Patient Advice:
- Inform the healthcare provider about any history of allergies or reactions to animal-derived products.
- Patient may experience mild fever, chills, or rash post-injection—report severe symptoms immediately.
- Follow-up observation for delayed serum sickness symptoms may be needed.
- Remind the patient that this is not a vaccine and does not provide long-term immunity—diphtheria vaccination is still required post-recovery.