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Medical Author:

Steven Doerr, MD

Steven Doerr, MD

Steven Doerr, MD, is a U.S. board-certified Emergency Medicine Physician. Dr. Doerr received his undergraduate degree in Spanish from the University of Colorado at Boulder. He graduated with his Medical Degree from the University Of Colorado Health Sciences Center in Denver, Colorado in 1998 and completed his residency training in Emergency Medicine from Denver Health Medical Center in Denver, Colorado in 2002, where he also served as Chief Resident.

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Medical Editor:

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, is a U.S. board-certified Anatomic Pathologist with subspecialty training in the fields of Experimental and Molecular Pathology. Dr. Stöppler's educational background includes a BA with Highest Distinction from the University of Virginia and an MD from the University of North Carolina. She completed residency training in Anatomic Pathology at Georgetown University followed by subspecialty fellowship training in molecular diagnostics and experimental pathology.

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In this Article

• What is diphtheria?
• What is the history of diphtheria?
• What causes diphtheria?
• How is diphtheria transmitted?
• What are the signs and symptoms of diphtheria?
• How is diphtheria diagnosed?
• What is the treatment for diphtheria?
• What are the complications of diphtheria?
• How is diphtheria prevented?
• Diphtheria At A Glance
• Diphtheria Index

The potential complications of diphtheria may include the following:

• cardiac (inflammation of the heart, heart valve infection, heart rhythm disturbances, and congestive heart failure),



• neurologic (muscle paralysis, muscle weakness, and vision problems),



• infectious (lung infection, blood infection, and bone infection), and



• death.

For respiratory diphtheria, the fatality rate is 10%-15%, although it may be higher in patients less than 5 years of age and older than 40 years of age. Airway obstruction and cardiac complications are the most common causes of death.

The prevention of diphtheria is best achieved through universal immunization with diphtheria toxoid-containing vaccines. Immunization for infants and children consists of five DTaP vaccinations generally given at ages 2, 4, and 6 months, with the fourth dose being administered between 15-18 months, and the fifth dose at ages 4-6 years. At age 11-12 years, children should receive a single Tdap vaccination if they have completed the recommended childhood vaccination schedule. Because immunity wanes over time, subsequent booster immunization is required every 10 years thereafter to maintain protective antibody levels.

Travelers to areas where diphtheria is endemic should review and update their vaccinations as necessary.

• Diphtheria is an infectious disease caused by the bacterium Corynebacterium diphtheriae.
• Diphtheria is primarily transmitted via airborne respiratory droplets or by direct contact with secretions from infected people.
• The symptoms of diphtheria include sore throat, fever, malaise, difficulty swallowing, and difficulty breathing.
• Diphtheria is treated with both antitoxin and antibiotics.
• Diphtheria can lead to cardiac and neurologic complications, as well as death.
• Immunization is the best prevention against diphtheria.