Diphtheria is a highly contagious, acute bacterial infection. It was once a leading cause of death among children. Widespread use of the diphtheria vaccine has made it extremely rare in areas of the developed western world where most people are immunized against the disease.

Diphtheria occurs when a person comes into contact with the airborne bacteria that cause the disease. These bacteria attach to a person’s skin or the mucous membranes lining the nose and throat.

When diphtheria occurs in the respiratory system, it produces symptoms that may appear similar to a common cold, such as a sore throat, cough and swollen neck glands. The characteristic feature of diphtheria is the growth of a thick, leather-like material on mucous membranes. It can be sticky or fuzzy and is gray, brown, black or white in color. This material also appears when diphtheria occurs in a wound on the skin.

Complications of diphtheria include airway obstruction and respiratory failure in young children. Infection can also spread to other organs of the body, including the heart, kidneys and central nervous system.

Parents who suspect their child (or anyone in the household) may have diphtheria should contact their child’s physician immediately. A physical examination that includes a throat culture (or swab from the site of infection) can confirm a diagnosis of diphtheria. If one member of a household has diphtheria, other household members may need to be tested to see if the disease has spread. In addition, other household members may be treated with antibiotics, even without evidence of having contracted the disease.

Treatment for severe cases of diphtheria is usually provided in a hospital. Patients may be confined to prevent spread of the disease among people who have not been immunized against it. Antitoxin and antibiotic medications are both provided. Diphtheria vaccines are also administered, since contracting diphtheria does not provide immunity to the disease. Patients typically remain in the hospital for two to six weeks, or until fully recovered.  

Diphtheria is preventable with immunization. A schedule has been recommended by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP). This involves a primary series of vaccines that are given at staggered time intervals – three shots are delivered during infancy and two shots are administered during childhood. The remaining booster shots are given during adolescence and continue throughout adulthood.

People who do not receive all the necessary shots are at increased risk of contracting diphtheria. Maintaining up-to-date immunization throughout one’s life is an important component of preventing diphtheria. This is especially important when traveling to countries where diphtheria outbreaks occur (e.g., central Asia, Africa), or when in close contact with immigrants from these countries. It is also important when living in crowded or unclean environments.