Diphtheria

Introduction

Diphtheria is an acute bacterial disease that usually affects the tonsils, throat, nose, and/or skin. The disease is passed from person to person by droplet transmission, usually by breathing in bacteria after an infected person has coughed, sneezed, or even laughed. It can also be spread by handling used tissues or by drinking from a glass used by an infected person. People can also get sick from touching infected sores on persons with the skin form of diphtheria. The diphtheria bacteria make a toxin that sickens people. Diphtheria can lead to breathing problems, heart failure, paralysis, and sometimes serious infection caused by strains of bacteria called Corynebacterium diphtheriae that make a toxin (poison). It is the toxin that can cause people to get very sick.

Diphtheria bacteria spread from person to person, usually through respiratory droplets, like from coughing or sneezing.  People can also get sick from touching infected open sores or ulcers.

Symptoms

Diphtheria can infect the respiratory tract (parts of the body involved in breathing) and skin. Symptoms of diphtheria depend on the body part that is affected.

Respiratory Diphtheria

The bacteria most commonly infect the respiratory system, which includes parts of the body involved in breathing. When the bacteria get into and attach to the lining of the respiratory system, it can cause symptoms like mild fever , weakness, mild fever, swollen gland in neck.

Prevention

Antibiotics

CDC recommends that close contacts of someone with diphtheria receive antibiotics to prevent them from getting sick. Experts call this prophylaxis. This is important for people with diphtheria infecting the respiratory system (parts of the body involved in breathing) and skin.

Regards

Billie

Managing Editor

Journal of infectious diseases and treatment