Diphtheria

Diphtheria is a serious disease that affects the upper respiratory tract and skin. It’s caused by a toxin produced by a bacteria called Corynebacterium diphtheriae (C. diphtheriae). It is extremely rare in the U.S., but is most common where people live in crowded conditions and among people who have not been vaccinated for diphtheria. There are 2 types of diphtheria, respiratory and skin.

Respiratory diphtheria is the most common and serious type of diphtheria and occurs when C. diphtheriae toxin infects the nose and throat. Symptoms of respiratory diphtheria include not feeling well, sore throat, not wanting to eat, low-grade fever, swelling of the neck (“bull neck”), and a bluish-white coating of dead tissue that can build up in the nose and in the back of the throat.

Skin infection diphtheria happens when the bacteria that make diphtheria toxin infect the skin. Signs and symptoms of a diphtheria infection on the skin include a mild flaky rash, blisters, or a sore on the skin that doesn’t heal.

1. diphtheriae is most commonly spread through the air when an infected person coughs, sneezes, or speaks, which creates small droplets that contain the bacteria. Other people can become infected if they breathe in those droplets. People can also get infected by touching open sores or ulcers caused by C. diphtheriae. Vaccination can reduce the risk of diphtheria infection.