Diphtheria

Image of a doctor examining the throat of a young child with a tongue depressor.
About
Learn about diphtheria: types, cause, risk factors, treatment, and prevention.
Learn More
Doctor examining adult male patient
Symptoms and Complications
Respiratory diphtheria causes more serious symptoms and disease than diphtheria skin infections.
A picture of a multi-generational family.
Vaccination
People of all ages should get vaccinated against diphtheria.

Healthcare providers

Child with cervical swelling, referred to as bull neck, which is a symptom of diphtheria.
Clinical Overview
Diphtheria is an acute disease that's rare in the United States.

Diagnosis and treatment

  • Clinical Features
    Respiratory and cutaneous diphtheria are the most common disease presentations.
  • Clinical Guidance
    Information on diagnosis, testing, treatment, and prevention of diphtheria.
  • Diphtheria Antitoxin (DAT)
    ÐÇ¿ÕÓéÀÖ¹ÙÍø can distribute diphtheria antitoxin (DAT) to healthcare providers to treat diphtheria.

Public health professionals

An illustration of generic data
Surveillance and Trends
ÐÇ¿ÕÓéÀÖ¹ÙÍø tracks diphtheria cases nationally. Diphtheria is now an uncommon disease in the United States.
Corynebacterium diphtheriae on an Elek plate.
Lab Testing
ÐÇ¿ÕÓéÀÖ¹ÙÍø has the only U.S. laboratory that performs specialized testing to confirm diphtheria diagnoses.
Diphtheria bacteria growing on a Tinsdale plate.
Pertussis and Diphtheria Lab
ÐÇ¿ÕÓéÀÖ¹ÙÍø has a laboratory focused on innovative research related to pertussis and diphtheria.