Diphtheria is a bacterial infection that affects the membranes of the throat and nose. Although it spreads easily, diphtheria can be prevented through the use of vaccines. If left untreated, diphtheria can cause severe damage to your kidneys, nervous system, and heart. According to the Mayo Clinic, diphtheria is fatal in about 10 percent of cases.

What Causes Diphtheria?

Diphtheria is caused by the corynebacterium diphtheriae bacterium. It’s most commonly spread through person-to-person contact or contact with items that have the bacteria on them. Coming into contact with items such as an infected person’s cup or used tissue can transfer the bacteria. The mist exhaled by an infected person’s sneeze or cough can also contain the bacteria.

Recognizing the Signs of Diphtheria

Signs of diphtheria often appear two to five days after infection. In some cases, you could be a carrier of C. diphtheriae and have only mild symptoms (that are similar to the common cold) or no symptoms at all. The most common and visible symptom is a thick, gray coating on your throat and tonsils. Other common symptoms include:

- difficulty breathing
- swollen lymph nodes in the neck
- chills
- fever
- a loud, barking cough
- bluish skin
- a sore throat
- drooling
- a general feeling of uneasiness or discomfort

Preventing Diphtheria

With the use of antibiotics and vaccines, diphtheria is not only treatable, but preventable as well.

The vaccine for diphtheria is given in a single shot (along with vaccines for pertussis and tetanus) that is called DTaP. The DTaP vaccine is administered in a series at 2, 4, and 6 months of age, and then again at around 1 and 4 years of age. In rare cases, a child might have an allergic reaction to the vaccine. This can result in seizures or hives that later go away.

Because vaccines last for only 10 years, you’ll want to have your child vaccinated again around the age of 12 to maintain diphtheria protection. For adults, it’s recommended that you get a combined diphtheria and tetanus booster called the Td vaccine to maintain your protection.