Diphtheria is a highly contagious and potentially life-threatening infection. It is caused by a bacterium called Corynebacterium diphtheriae. The germ produces a toxin that can spread from the site of infection to other tissues in the body. Diphtheria usually affects the throat and nose. In serious cases, it may affect the nervous system and heart.
Diphtheria spreads easily from person to person by coughing or sneezing. People nearby breathe in the infected droplets. In rare cases, they come into direct contact with excretions from an infected person’s mouth, nose, throat, or skin.
Because of a widespread immunization program, diphtheria is now rare in the US.
Symptoms usually begin 2-4 days following exposure. Early symptoms include:
Later symptoms may include:
The toxin produced by the bacterium may cause a coating to form in the nose, throat, or airway. This is what causes difficulty breathing or swallowing. In cases that spread beyond the throat, the toxin can cause damage to the heart or kidneys. It can also cause nerve damage and lead to paralysis . Since untreated cases can be fatal, people need to be hospitalized and treated right away.
Treatment consists of an antitoxin and antibiotics. Some people may also need a respirator to help them breath. Bed rest is needed for about 4-6 weeks. Diphtheria booster shots will be needed.
The diphtheria vaccine is an inactivated toxin called a toxoid.
Although it is available as a single vaccine, it is normally given in combination with the tetanus and pertussis vaccines. Together they are known as the DTaP vaccine (for children) and Tdap (for adolescents and adults). In children who cannot have the pertussis part of the vaccine, the DT (diphtheria and tetanus) vaccine is used.
The vaccine is injected into the muscle.
All children (with few exceptions) should receive the vaccine, usually in the form of the DTaP shot. The regular schedule (for children and adults) is as follows:
For children aged 4 months to 6 years who have not yet received the vaccine, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend the following catch-up schedule:
Doses | Minimum Interval Between Doses |
First and second dose | 4 weeks |
Second and third dose | 4 weeks |
Third and fourth dose | 6 months |
Fourth and fifth dose |
6 months
|
Unvaccinated children (aged seven years and older) and adults should get the vaccine.
People who meet the following criteria should also get the vaccine:
Most people tolerate it well, but the diphtheria vaccine sometimes causes:
Acetaminophen (eg, Tylenol) is sometimes given to reduce pain and fever that may occur after getting a vaccine. In infants, the medicine may weaken the vaccine's effectiveness. Discuss the risks and benefits of taking acetaminophen with the doctor.
There are two circumstances where the risks of the vaccine outweigh its benefits:
Since the diphtheria vaccine is generally given as DTaP, it can be hard to determine which component is causing a problem. It is usually best to avoid all three vaccines if there are serious side effects.
If your child has any of these reactions, you should get medical care right away:
If your child has a moderate to severe illness, wait until he has recovered before getting the vaccine.
Prevention depends on getting the vaccine and responding quickly to outbreaks.
Suspected cases of diphtheria need to be reported right away to public health authorities.
In the event of a suspected or confirmed outbreak, only close contacts are considered to be at risk. For close contacts, treatment includes:
WHERE CAN I GET MORE INFORMATION?
Immunizations/Vaccines
American Academy of Pediatrics
http://www.aap.org/healthtopics/immunizations.cfm
National Immunization Program
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/
References:
Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices. Recommended adult immunization schedule: United States, 2009. Ann Intern Med. 2009;150:40-44.
Diphtheria. Directors of Health Promotion and Education (DHPE) website. Available at: http://www.dhpe.org/infect/dip.html. Accessed January 1, 2007.
Diphtheria. KidsHealth.org website. Available at: http://www.kidshealth.org/parent/infections/bacterial_viral/diphtheria.html. Accessed January 1, 2007.
Diphtheria antitoxin. Centers for Disease Control and Protection National Immunization Program website. Available at: http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd-vac/diphtheria/dat/dat-main.htm. Accessed January 1, 2007.
Diphtheria outbreak in Cali, Colombia, August-October 2000. Pan American Health Organization website. Available at: http://www.paho.org/english/sha/be_v22n3-diphtheria.htm. Accessed January 2, 2007.
Diphtheria vaccine. Immunization Action Coalition website. Available at: http://www.vaccineinformation.org/diphther/qandavax.asp. Accessed January 1, 2007.
Palmer S, Balfour A, Jephcott A. Immunization of adults during an outbreak of diphtheria. Br Med J (Clin Res Ed). 1983:286:624-626.
1/31/2008 DynaMed's Systematic Literature Surveillance http://www.ebscohost.com/dynamed/what.php: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Recommended immunization schedules for persons aged 0-18 years—United States, 2008. MMWR. 2008;57;Q1-Q4. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, MMWR website. Available at: http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5701a8.htm. Updated January 10, 2008. Accessed January 28, 2008.
10/30/2009 DynaMed's Systematic Literature Surveillance http://www.ebscohost.com/dynamed/what.php: Prymula R, Siegrist C, Chlibek R, et al. Effect of prophylactic paracetamol administration at time of vaccination on febrile reactions and antibody responses in children: two open-label, randomised controlled trials. Lancet. 2009;374(9698):1339.
Last reviewed November 2009 by David L. Horn, MD, FACP
Please be aware that this information is provided to supplement the care provided by your physician. It is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. CALL YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER IMMEDIATELY IF YOU THINK YOU MAY HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
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