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The Diphtheria bacteria that cause this acute infectious disease usually enter through the upper respiratory tract.Diphtheria is an infectious disease caused by the bacterium Corynebacterium diptheriae. There are two types of diphtheria; one type affects the respiratory tract and the other affects the skin.  The most common type affects the tonsils, throat, or nose.  Diphtheria is a rare disease in the United States primarily due to widespread immunization.  Cases of diphtheria most commonly occur among unvaccinated or under-vaccinated persons.  During the incubation of one to seven days the germs make a toxin that is absorbed and carried through the blood stream to all parts of the body. Then a fever begins, associated with a membrane on the throat, listlessness, pallor, weakness, and finally vascular collapse. Although occasionally restricted to the nose, diphtheria usually involves the throat (the pharynx and larynx), and in tropical areas it is responsible for some cases of “jungle sore”. Complications may involve the extension of the membrane, which obstructs the respiratory tract or equally serious a toxic myocarditis, a vascular collapse, or neuritis.Patients with diphtheria should be isolated and kept on strict bed rest.Antitoxins should be obtained and given to the patient, while general supportive measures are carried out. Preventive immunization in infancy should be routine. The standard protocol of three initial DPT inoculations (or in the case of Pertussis sensitivity, a DT immunization is available) followed by booster doses at one and six years will usually confer lifelong protection.

Every child should get diphtheria vaccine at 2, 4, 6, and 15 to 18 months of age, and another dose at 4 to 6 years age before entering school.  A booster dose of diphtheria vaccine is also recommended at 11 to 12 years of age if it has been 5 years since the last dose.

Ten facts about Diptheria
#1. Diphtheria can be prevented with safe and effective vaccines.     


#2. You cannot get diphtheria from the vaccine. 


#3. Diphtheria is transmitted to others through close contact with discharges from an 
infected person’s nose, throat, eyes and/or skin lesions. 


#4. Nearly one out of every 10 people who get diphtheria will die from it. 


#5. Diphtheria can lead to breathing problems, and sometimes heart failure, paralysis 
or death if untreated. 


#6. Most cases of diphtheria occur among people who are unvaccinated or 
inadequately  vaccinated. 


#7. Contracting diphtheria is not always followed by lasting immunity, so even those 
persons who have recently recovered from the disease need to be immunized. 


#8. A tetanus-diphtheria (Td) shot every 10 years gives protection against both tetanus 
and diphtheria.  A tetanus-diphtheria-acellular pertussis (Tdap) shot gives 
protection against tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis. 


#9. Although no longer a common disease in the United States, diphtheria remains a 
large problem in other countries and can pose a serious threat to United States 
citizens who may not be fully immunized and who travel to other countries or 
have contact with immigrants or international travelers coming to the U.S. 


#10. An epidemic of diphtheria in Eastern Europe and the newly independent states of 
the former Soviet Union resulted in over 160, 000 cases and over 4,000 deaths 
between 1990 and 2001.