Diphtheria

Diphtheria is a highly contagious bacterial infection. The incubation period is usually 2-5 days and a person with the illness may be contagious for up to four weeks.

Cases of diphtheria in England and Wales

Cases reported to the WHO per country per year

Incubation period

2-5 days

Symptoms

Sore throat, Fever, Feeling unwell

Possible complications

Breathing difficulties, Heart, nerve and/or kidney damage, Paralysis, Death

About diphtheria

Diphtheria is a highly contagious infection caused by a bacteria (Corynebacterium diphtheria) that affects the nose and throat, and sometimes the skin.

The bacteria produce a toxin that kills healthy tissues. In turn, the dead tissues form a thick grey coating – known as a pseudomembrane – that can build up in the nose or throat, making it harder to breathe and swallow.

The main danger of diphtheria lies in the poisonous toxin it produces, which can spread to the heart and nerves – here, it has the potential to cause serious illness or even death. Though full recovery is normal, and outbreaks appear more likely to occur amongst those living in poverty and overcrowding, the chances of healthy victims dying are probably between 1 in 10 and 1 in 20.

Diphtheria symptoms

The toxin caused by the diphtheria bacteria can lead to a sore throat, a general feeling of being unwell and a high temperature.

In some cases, the breathing difficulties caused by the pseudomembrane become so severe that a tracheotomy is necessary, i.e. the surgical making of a hole directly into the windpipe (trachea) so that the person can breathe.

If the diphtheria bacteria affects the skin, it can cause open sores or ulcers but rarely results in other severe diseases.

Possible complications

If the toxin caused by the diphtheria bacteria gets into the bloodstream, it can cause heart, nerve and kidney damage and even be fatal.

Other complications of respiratory diphtheria include airway blockage and/or loss of the ability to move (paralysis).

Diphtheria FAQs

Diphtheria bacteria spread from person to person, usually through respiratory droplets (e.g. from coughing or sneezing). It is also possible to contract the infection from touching infected open sores or ulcers.

Before the introduction of vaccines, diphtheria was the leading cause of childhood death around the world, including in the UK.

These days, it is thankfully very rare due to widespread routine childhood vaccinations since the 1940s and there are no more than a handful of cases in the UK every year. However, a school-age child did die from diphtheria in London in April 2008.

In 2019, almost 23,000 cases of Diphtheria worldwide were reported to the World Health Organisation, mainly in Africa and South-East Asia. Vaccinating against the illness helps to protect anyone who might travel into areas with a high number of diphtheria cases in the future.

Researchers from Cambridge University recently warned that diphtheria risks becoming a “major global threat again” due to rising cases and the dip in children being vaccinated during the COVID-19 pandemic.

FIND OUT EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT DIPHTHERIA VACCINATION HERE

It is essential for someone with diphtheria to receive treatment as quickly as possible. Doctors will usually begin treatment by looking for common signs and symptoms of the illness. They can also swab the back of the throat or nose (or an open sore or ulcer) and test it for the bacteria that cause diphtheria. As it takes time to grow the bacteria, treatment often begins before the illness is confirmed.

Diphtheria treatment today can include:

  • Using a diphtheria antitoxin to stop the toxin made by the bacteria from damaging the body. This course of treatment is important for respiratory diphtheria infections but is rarely used for diphtheria skin infections.
  • Antibiotics to kill and get rid of the bacteria. This works well for both respiratory and skin diphtheria infections. People with diphtheria usually stop being contagious about 48 hours after they begin taking antibiotics but they should always complete a full course of treatment, after which a doctor will run tests to make sure the bacteria is no longer in the patient’s body.

Individual advice about protecting your child against diphtheria

Need advice about the right combination vaccine to protect your child against diphtheria? The BabyJabs clinicians are here to listen and answer your questions to help you decide.