We are the combination of four hospitals: the General Hospital, the Children’s Hospital, the Women’s Hospital and the Traumatology, Rehabilitation and Burns Hospital. We are part of the Vall d’Hebron Barcelona Hospital Campus: a world-leading health park where healthcare plays a crucial role.
Below we will list the departments and units that form part of Vall d’Hebron Hospital and the main diseases that we treat. We will also make recommendations based on advice backed up by scientific evidence that has been shown to be effective in guaranteeing well-being and quality of life.
We will guide you from your first visit to the centre, allowing you to find all the departments and make the most of our facilities. Whatever the reason for your visit, we will explain how to get about the hospital.
Diphtheria is an acute infectious disease caused by the Corynebacterium diphtheriae bacteria and which only affects humans. It may show up as a condition of the upper respiratory tract (tonsils, pharynx and nasal mucosa). The bacteria produces an exotoxin that is responsible for the clinical symptoms of the disease. In adults, it can be fatal in 5-10% of cases, and in children this rises to 20%.
The characteristic symptom of respiratory diphtheria is a greyish white membrane (pseudomembrane) covering the tonsils and pharynx. The membrane tends to be difficult to remove and in doing so the area bleeds easily.
The most common symptoms are:
Thanks to vaccination, there have been no cases diagnosed in Spain for over thirty years. In 2015, however, there was one case in a child who had not been vaccinated.
Diphtheria is transmitted through respiration or close physical contact with an infected person or a healthy person carrying the bacteria but who has never shown symptoms.
The incubation period is two to seven days and it can be spread from seven days before symptoms appear up to two or three weeks afterwards.
Diagnosis is confirmed via microbial culture of clinical samples (swabs from the nasal mucosa, pharynx or pseudomembranes).
Diphtheria antitoxin medication and an antibiotic such as penicillin G procaine must be given as soon as possible (in the first 48 hours after showing symptoms, without waiting for the laboratory diagnosis).
Vaccination is the main measure to prevent diphtheria and is effective in 95% of cases. It must be periodically boosted as the effects of the vaccination do not last for ever.
Epidemiological monitoring and prophylaxis are essential to control the bacteria and to avoid secondary cases.
Health tips to prevent diphtheria
Strokes and Cerebral Haemodynamics
Paediatric Cardiology
Neonatal and Foetal Surgery
Abdominal wall surgery
Endocrinology and Nutrition
Sleep Unit
Otolaryngology (Ear, Nose and Throat)
Microbiology
Neurology
Digestive System
Coronary care unit
Oculoplastic and Orbital Surgery
Prematurity Prevention Unit
Allergology
Paediatric Intensive Care
Plastic Surgery and Burns
Paediatric Cardiac Surgery
Paediatric Endocrinology
Nutritional Support
Paediatric Infectious Diseases and Immunodeficiencies Unit
Nephrology
Paediatric Neurology
Clinical and molecular genetics
Paediatric Hospitalisation and Hospital Paediatrics Unit
Paediatric Oncological Surgery Unit
Foetal Medicine and Surgery Unit
Pathological anatomy
Cardiac Surgery
Thoracic Surgery and Lung Transplants
Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
Gynaecology
Dialysis
Radiation Oncology
Paediatric Nephrology
Ophthalmology
Dermatology
Paediatric emergency care
Hereditary Angioedema Unit
Obstetrics and Reproductive Medicine
Neonatology
Cardiology
Pharmacy
Paediatric Orthopaedic Surgery
Diagnostic and Interventional Haemodynamics
Heart failure
Pneumology
Neurosurgery
Paediatric Ophthalmology
Pneumology, allergology and cystic fibrosis
Aortic pathology and Marfan syndrome
Obstetrics Ultrasound Unit
Cardiovascular Critical Care Unit
Anaesthesia, Resuscitation and Pain Management
Colon and Rectal Surgery
Physics and Radiation Protection
Paediatric Digestive Surgery and Transplants
Hepatology
Psychiatry
Foetal Medicine
Clinical Neurophysiology
Paediatric Oncology and Haematology
Radiodiagnosis (IDI)
Paediatric Surgery
Prenatal Diagnosis Unit
Social Obstetrics Unit
Angiology, Vascular Surgery and Endovascular Surgery
General and Digestive Surgery
Gastroenterology, Hepatology, Nutritional Support and Paediatric Hepatic Transplants
Endocrine, Metabolic, and Bariatric Surgery
Paediatric Urology
Clinical Laboratories
Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
Medical Oncology
Paediatrics
Clinical Pharmacology
Corneal and Ocular Surface Section
Diabetes and Pregnancy Unit
Perinatal Mental Health Unit
Arrhythmia Unit
Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery and Transplants
Gynaecological Oncology and Pathology of the Lower Genital Tract
Gynaecological Endoscopic Surgery
Urology
Infectious Diseases
Internal Medicine
Tobacco cessation (quitting smoking)
General Emergencies
Immunology
Glaucoma
Gynaecological Endocrinology
Transplant Coordination
Biochemistry
Paediatric Maxillofacial Surgery
Haematology and Haemotherapy
Oesophagogastric Surgery
Obstetric and Gynaecological Emergency Care
Breast Pathology
Preventive Medicine and Epidemiology
Congenital Heart Disease in Adolescents and Adults
Intensive care medicine
Echocardiogram and cardiac imaging unit
Uveitis and Eye Inflammation
Paediatric and Adolescent Gynaecology
Inherited Heart Disease
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