DiphtheriaSymptoms, Doctors, Treatments, Advances & More
Diphtheria Overview
Learn About Diphtheria
Diphtheria is an acute infection caused by the bacterium Corynebacterium diphtheriae.
Respiratory diphtheria; Pharyngeal diphtheria; Diphtheric cardiomyopathy; Diphtheric polyneuropathy
The bacteria that cause diphtheria spread through respiratory droplets (such as from a cough or sneeze) of an infected person or someone who carries the bacteria but has no symptoms.
The bacteria most commonly infect your nose and throat. The throat infection causes a gray to black, tough, fiber-like covering, which can block your airways. In some cases, the diphtheria bacteria infect your skin first and cause skin lesions.
Once you are infected, the bacteria make dangerous substances called toxins. The toxins spread through your bloodstream to other organs, such as the heart and brain, and cause damage.
Because of widespread vaccination (immunization) of children, diphtheria is now rare in many parts of the world.
Risk factors for diphtheria include crowded environments, poor hygiene, and lack of immunization.
Symptoms usually occur 2 to 5 days after the bacteria enter your body:
- Fever and chills
- Sore throat, hoarseness
- Painful swallowing
- Croup-like (barking) cough
- Drooling (suggests airway blockage is about to occur)
- Bluish coloration of the skin (cyanosis)
- Bloody, watery drainage from nose
- Breathing problems, including difficulty breathing, fast breathing, high-pitched breathing sound (stridor)
- Skin sores (usually seen in tropical areas)
Sometimes there are no symptoms.
If your provider thinks you have diphtheria, treatment will likely be started right away, even before test results come back.
Diphtheria antitoxin is given as a shot into a muscle or through an IV (intravenous line). The infection is then treated with antibiotics, such as penicillin, azithromycin, or erythromycin.
You may need to stay in the hospital while getting the antitoxin. Other treatments may include:
- Fluids by IV
- Oxygen
- Bed rest
- Heart monitoring
- Insertion of a breathing tube
- Correction of airway blockages
People without symptoms who carry the diphtheria bacteria should be treated with antibiotics.
Anja Berger practices practicing medicine in Oberschleissheim, Germany. Ms. Berger is rated as an Elite expert by MediFind in the treatment of Diphtheria. She is also highly rated in 1 other condition, according to our data. Her clinical expertise encompasses Diphtheria, Lymphadenitis, Staphylococcal Meningitis, and H Influenzae Meningitis.
Andreas Sing practices practicing medicine in Oberschleissheim, Germany. Mr. Sing is rated as an Elite expert by MediFind in the treatment of Diphtheria. He is also highly rated in 4 other conditions, according to our data. His clinical expertise encompasses Diphtheria, Lyme Disease, Relapsing Fever, and Lymphadenitis.
Dr. Soetomo General Academic Hospital
Dominicus Husada practices practicing medicine in Surabaya, Indonesia. Husada is rated as an Elite expert by MediFind in the treatment of Diphtheria. They are also highly rated in 8 other conditions, according to our data. Their clinical expertise encompasses Diphtheria, Rubella, Togaviridae Disease, and Dengue Fever.
Diphtheria may be mild or severe. Some people do not have symptoms. In others, the disease can slowly get worse. Recovery from the illness is slow.
People may die, especially when the disease affects the heart.
The most common complication is inflammation of the heart muscle (myocarditis). The nervous system is also frequently and severely affected, which may result in temporary paralysis.
The diphtheria toxin can also damage the kidneys.
There can also be an allergic response to the antitoxin.
Contact your provider right away if you have come in contact with a person who has diphtheria.
Diphtheria is a rare disease. It is also a reportable disease, and any cases are often publicized in the media. This helps you to know if diphtheria is present in your area.
Routine childhood immunizations and adult boosters effectively prevent the disease.
Anyone who has come into contact with an infected person should get an immunization or booster shot against diphtheria, if they have not already received it. Protection from the vaccine lasts only 10 years. So it is important for adults to get a booster vaccine every 10 years. The booster is called tetanus-diphtheria (Td). (The shot also has vaccine medicine for an infection called tetanus.)
If you have been in close contact with a person who has diphtheria, contact your provider right away. Ask whether you need antibiotics to prevent getting diphtheria.
Summary: BEATRIX (group B strEptococcus mATeRnal and Infant VaX study) The purpose of this study is to learn about the safety and how the group B streptococcus (GBS) vaccine works in pregnant women and their babies. This study is seeking healthy pregnant participants: * aged 49 or younger who can join. * between 24 and 36 weeks of gestation (Gestational age is a medical term used to describe how far along ...
Summary: This study is being done to understand and measure how the immune system responds to and remembers different types of vaccines. To do this, four vaccines approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will be given simultaneously to participants. Participants will be volumteers who are healthy adults (18 years old or older) and willing to receive the yearly trivalent inactivated influenza...
Published Date: December 13, 2025
Published By: Jatin M. Vyas, MD, PhD, Roy and Diana Vagelos Professor in Medicine, Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, New York, NY. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website. Diphtheria. www.cdc.gov/diphtheria/about/index.html. Updated May 12, 2025. Accessed January 27, 2026.
Kim R, Clauss H, Reboli AC. Gram-positive rod infections. In: Goldman L, Cooney KA, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 27th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2024:chap 272.
Martin-Blais R. Diphtheria. In: Cherry JD, Kaplan SL, Harrison GJ, Steinbach WJ, Hotez PJ, Williams JV, eds. Feigin and Cherry's Textbook of Pediatric Infectious Diseases. 9th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2025:chap 90.
Saleeb PG. Corynebacterium diphtheriae (diphtheria). In: Blaser MJ, Cohen JI, Holland SM, et al, eds. Mandell, Douglas, and Bennett's Principles and Practice of Infectious Diseases. 10th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2026:chap 209.