Diphtheria

Diphtheria is a bacterial infection that can cause severe complications, such as difficulty breathing and swallowing. It may also attack the heart, kidneys, and nervous system.

• Highly Contagious: Spreads person-to-person for up to 6 weeks if untreated but only 4 days if treated.
• Rapid Onset: Symptoms appear 2-7 days after exposure, sometimes longer.
• Silent Spread: Vaccinated individuals can still transmit it, though they are usually asymptomatic.
• Symptoms
  • Thick gray coating in the throat or nose
  • Sore throat & difficulty swallowing
  • Hoarseness & barking cough
  • Fever & chills
  • Swollen glands in the neck
  • Weakness & fatigue
  • Trouble breathing
• 30% of people who contract Diphtheria will die from the disease.
• Vaccination Success: Cases dropped from 150,000 per year to just 2 per year with widespread immunization.
• Treatment Options:
  • Antitoxin IV – Urgent treatment needed as symptoms can progress rapidly (5-20% risk of allergic reaction)
  • Antibiotics – 14-day course if antitoxin is unavailable.
  • Vaccine Safety – Severe allergic reaction is 1 in a million, much safer than antitoxin treatment.

The DTaP and Tdap Vaccines remain the best protection against diphtheria. Stay protected. Stay informed.

 

Here is a video that goes into more detail about Diphtheria.