How is diphtheria caused

It produces a gray pseudomembrane, or a covering that looks like a membrane, over the lining of the nose and throat, around the area of the tonsils. This pseudomembrane may also be greenish or blueish, and even black if there has been bleeding.

Children with a diphtheria infection in a cavity behind the nose and mouth are more likely to have the following early features:. After a person is first infected with the bacteria, there is an average incubation period of 5 days before early signs and symptoms appear. After the initial symptoms have appeared, within 12 to 24 hours, a pseudomembrane will begin to form if the bacteria are toxic, leading to:.

If the membrane extends to the larynx, hoarseness and a barking cough are more likely, as is the danger of complete obstruction of the airway.

The membrane may also extend further down the respiratory system toward the lungs. Potentially life-threatening complications can occur if the toxin enters the bloodstream and damages other vital tissues.

Myocarditis is an inflammation of the heart muscle. It can lead to heart failure, and the greater the degree of bacterial infection, the higher the toxicity to the heart.

Myocarditis might cause abnormalities that are only apparent on a heart monitor, but it has the potential to cause sudden death. Heart problems usually appear 10 to 14 days after the start of the infection, although problems can take weeks to appear.

Heart problems associated with diphtheria include:. Neuritis is inflammation of nerve tissue that results in damage to nerves. This complication is relatively uncommon and usually appears after a severe respiratory infection with diphtheria. Typically, the condition develops as follows:. If the bacterial infection affects tissues other than the throat and respiratory system, such as the skin, the illness is generally milder.

This is because the body absorbs lower amounts of the toxin, especially if the infection only affects the skin. The infection can coexist with other infections and skin conditions and may look no different from eczema , psoriasis , or impetigo. However, diphtheria in the skin can produce ulcers where there is no skin at the center with clear edges and sometimes grayish membranes. Back to Health A to Z. Diphtheria is a highly contagious and potentially fatal infection that can affect the nose and throat, and sometimes the skin.

It's rare in the UK, but there's a small risk of catching it while travelling in some parts of the world. If you're travelling to a part of the world where diphtheria is widespread, you may need a booster vaccination if you were last vaccinated against it more than 10 years ago.

Places considered to be high risk can change over time. Diphtheria is a serious communicable bacterial disease that causes severe inflammation of the nose, throat and windpipe trachea. It is caused by the bacterium Corynebacterium diphtheriae. The bacteria produce toxins that cause an abnormal membrane to grow in the throat, which can lead to suffocation. Other dangerous complications include paralysis and heart failure if the toxins spread throughout the body. Around 10 per cent of people exposed to diphtheria die from the disease.

Diphtheria is extremely rare in most developed countries, including Australia, because of the widespread use of the diphtheria vaccine. However, it is important to continue vaccinating children against diphtheria because there is a risk that the infection can be brought in by people who have travelled to or come from developing nations.

Sometimes, diphtheria causes a skin infection. The wound is sore, inflamed and full of pus and may be surrounded by greyish skin patches.

This condition is known as cutaneous diphtheria. It is quite rare in developed countries. Without treatment, the extremely serious and potentially lethal complications of diphtheria can include:.

Diphtheria is most commonly spread when someone ingests swallows or inhales the cough or sneeze droplets from an infected person. Symptoms occur between two and 10 days following infection.

Sometimes, a person has such a mild case of diphtheria that they don't realise they are sick. However, they are still contagious for about six weeks and may infect a lot of other people. An apparently healthy person who spreads an infectious disease is called a 'carrier'. If diphtheria is suspected, treatment begins before the test results are back from the laboratory.

Treatment may include:. People who are caring for someone with diphtheria should practise strict hygiene — for example, wash hands frequently, particularly before handling, preparing or eating food — and get a booster vaccination. All contacts should also receive a course of antibiotics. In Victoria, the diphtheria vaccine is available in a combined vaccine that also contains protection against other serious and potentially fatal diseases.

The diphtheria vaccine contains a weakened form of the bacterial toxin, called a toxoid. It works by prompting the body to produce an 'antitoxin' — a specific antibody that neutralises diphtheria toxin.

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