Diphtheria

Pronounced: Dif-THEER-e-uh

by Amy Scholten, MPH

Definition

Diphtheria is a life-threatening infection. It can cause heart, nerve, and kidney damage. It needs to be treated right away.

Causes

This illness is caused by certain bacteria. It spreads from person-to-person contact. This can happen by:

Inhaling bacteria after a person coughs or sneezes
Using personal items such as tissues or drinking glasses
Having skin contact

Risk Factors

Things that raise the risk are:

Not having had:
- A diphtheria vaccine, or
- A booster dose in the past 10 years
Having a weak immune system

Symptoms

Symptoms of diphtheria may be mild or severe.

They may include:

A gray coating in the back of the throat
Sore throat or problems swallowing
Fever
Cough
Swollen lymph glands in the neck
Breathing problems
Tiredness

Swollen Glands in the Neck

Diagnosis

The doctor will ask about your symptoms and health history. A physical exam may be done. A nose or throat swab can confirm the diagnosis.

Treatment

Diphtheria will be treated right away, even if test results are not ready.

Treatment includes:

An antitoxin to stop damage to the body
Antibiotics to treat the infection
Isolation and bed rest

Prevention

A vaccine will prevent the disease.

RESOURCES:

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
https://www.cdc.gov

National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
https://www.niaid.nih.gov

CANADIAN RESOURCES:

Caring for Kids—Canadian Paediatric Society
https://www.caringforkids.cps.ca

Public Health Agency of Canada
https://www.canada.ca

References:

Diphtheria. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website. Available at: https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/pinkbook/dip.html. Accessed February 2, 2021.

Diphtheria. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at: https://www.dynamed.com/condition/diphtheria. Accessed Februsary 2, 2021.

Immunization schedules. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website. Available at: https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/schedules/index.html. Accessed February 2, 2021.

Sharma NC, Efstratiou A, et al. Diphtheria. Nat Rev Dis Primers. 2019;5(1):81.

Td (tetanus, diphtheria) VIS. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website. Available at: https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/hcp/vis/vis-statements/td.html. Accessed February 2, 2021.

Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis) VIS. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website. Available at: https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/hcp/vis/vis-statements/tdap.html. Accessed February 2, 2021.

Last reviewed September 2020 by David L. Horn, MD, FACP
Last Updated: 2/2/2021

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