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Diphtheria
Reviewed by Medicinsk Expert•Last updated: 2026-10-22•Infections

Diphtheria

Diphtheria is a serious bacterial infection that typically affects the nose and throat and is primarily prevented through vaccination.

Overview

Diphtheria is a serious bacterial infection. You can catch it from a person who has the infection and coughs or sneezes. You can also get infected by coming in contact with an object, such as a toy, that has bacteria on it.

Symptoms

Diphtheria usually affects the nose and throat. Symptoms include:

  • Sore throat
  • Swollen glands in the neck
  • Fever
  • Weakness

Diagnosis and Treatment

Your doctor will diagnose it based on your signs and symptoms and a lab test. Getting treatment for diphtheria quickly is important. If your doctor suspects that you have it, you'll start treatment before the lab tests come back. Treatment is with antibiotics.

Prevention

The diphtheria, pertussis, and tetanus vaccine can prevent diphtheria, but its protection does not last forever. Children need another dose, or booster, at about age 12. Then, as adults, they should get a booster every 10 years. Diphtheria is very rare in the United States because of the vaccine.

Frequently Asked Questions

While vaccination provides strong protection, immunity can wane over time, which is why boosters are recommended every 10 years for adults. In rare cases, fully vaccinated individuals can still contract diphtheria, but the disease is usually much milder and less likely to cause life-threatening complications compared to unvaccinated individuals. If you have not received a booster in the last 10 years and are exposed to a confirmed case, consult your healthcare provider about whether an additional dose is needed.
Diphtheria spreads through respiratory droplets when an infected person coughs or sneezes, or through direct contact with contaminated objects like towels or utensils. A person is generally considered contagious until they have been on effective antibiotic treatment for at least 24 hours and have two negative throat cultures taken 24 hours apart. This strict protocol ensures that the bacteria are eradicated before the patient is allowed to return to school, work, or public settings to prevent further spread.
Untreated or delayed treatment of diphtheria can lead to severe complications, including airway obstruction from the thick gray membrane in the throat, which can cause suffocation. The diphtheria toxin can also damage the heart muscle (myocarditis) and nerves (polyneuropathy), potentially leading to heart failure or paralysis. These complications can be fatal or result in permanent disability, which is why immediate antibiotic and antitoxin therapy is critical upon suspicion of the disease.
The diphtheria vaccine is not given alone; it is part of a combination vaccine that also protects against tetanus and pertussis (whooping cough). This is known as Tdap for adults and adolescents, or DTaP for young children. Therefore, receiving the diphtheria booster also ensures you are up to date on protection against tetanus and whooping cough, which are also serious bacterial infections.
Source: MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine

MedlinePlus brings together authoritative health information from the National Library of Medicine (NLM), the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and other government agencies and health-related organizations.

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