What is Diptheria?

Diphtheria is a bacterial infection, highly contagious, that primarily affects the nose and throat. Diptheria releases toxins into the blood that can lead to complications of the heart, kidneys and the central nervous system, which may be life-threatening. Without treatment, it can be fatal.

Diphtheria is an acute infectious disease which affects the upper respiratory tract (and sometimes the skin), caused by diphtheria toxin which is produced by toxigenic Corynebacterium diphtheriae or by C. ulcerans.

Diptheria Symptoms

Symptoms of diphtheria include swollen lymph glands (in the neck) and oedema of soft tissues giving a "bull neck" appearance, fever and sore throat.

Often a grey membrane (membranous pharyngitis called a "pseudo-membrane") grows across the throat which makes breathing difficult. It may also affect the skin, called cutaneous diphtheria, in which case sores may develop. Diphtheria can lead to breathing problems, heart failure, paralysis and sometimes death.

Milder infections appear like streptococcal pharyngitis and the pseudo-membrane may not develop, particularly in vaccinated individuals. The bacteria can also be carried without any symptoms at all.

Who's affected?

It's more common in children although because of vaccination programmes it's now rare in developed countries.

The disease thankfully became a rare thing in England and Wales following the introduction of mass immunisation in 1942. In 1942 the average annual number of cases was about 60,000 with 4,000 deaths from diphtheria.

Contagion

Diphtheria is highly contagious and is easily passed from the infected person to others through sneezing, coughing or even laughing. It can spread to others who pick up tissues or drinking glasses that have been used by the infected person.

People who have been infected by the diphtheria bacteria can infect others for up to four weeks, even when they don't have any symptoms. Diphtheria can be prevented with a safe and effective vaccine.

The normal hide-away for C. ulcerans is cattle - human cases have been linked with eating raw dairy products. Travel, and close contact with farm animals, are potential risks for infection. There is no solid evidence of person-to-person transmission of C. ulcerans infection but there have been reports that suggest this kind of transmission could happen.

Diptheria Treatment

Treatment of diphtheria is in hospital with diphtheria anti-toxin to neutralise the diphtheria toxins in the body and with antibiotics to kill remaining bacteria.

Patients are isolated. Intensive care may be needed if the heart, kidneys, or nervous system have been affected. Patients who have recovered are given a full course of diphtheria vaccine.

See the parents guide giving answers to common immunisation questions.