Diphtheria: Symptoms, Treatment and Vaccination

What it is

Diphtheria is a serious bacterial infection that usually affects the nose and throat. You can catch it:

• from an infected person who coughs or sneezes;
• by touching an object, such as a toy, that has the bacteria on it.

Symptoms

• sore throat;
• swollen glands in the neck;
• fever;
• weakness.

Diagnosis and treatment

Doctors diagnose it from signs and symptoms and a lab test. Quick treatment matters: if your doctor suspects diphtheria, you'll start treatment before the lab results come back. It is treated with antibiotics.

Prevention

The diphtheria, pertussis and tetanus vaccine prevents it, but protection doesn't last forever:

• children need a booster at about age 12;
• adults need a booster every 10 years.

Thanks to the vaccine, diphtheria is very rare in the United States.

Sources

Based on the MedlinePlus health topic "Diphtheria," National Library of Medicine, drawing on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; a work of the United States government in the public domain.