Diphtheria is an infectious disease caused by Corynebacterium diphtheriae bacteria that affects the mucous membranes and skin. It is characterized by a grayish membrane that can grow on the tonsils, throat, and nose. Symptoms include sore throat, fever, difficulty breathing, and a swollen neck. It is diagnosed through clinical examination, culture of the infected area, and blood tests. Treatment involves antibiotics to kill the bacteria. The disease can be prevented through vaccination with the routine DTP vaccine administered to children.

1. Diphtheria
Danielle, Matt, Kelsey, Joe
Table 3
Period 3 Anatomy

2. History
• Diphtheria comes from the Greek word Dipthera,
meaning leather.
This refers to the leathery, grayish membrane that
grows on the tonsils, throat and in the nose.
• It was named by French physician, Pierre
Bretonneau, in 1826.
• It is most common in children and adolescents.
• Between 1735 and 1740, the New England
colonies experienced deadly outbreaks, claiming
the lives of 13,000 to 15,000 children.

3. Diphtheria: An Overview
• Diphtheria is an acute infectious disease of the
mucus membrane or the skin.
• It is caused by Corynebacterium Diphtheriae
and Corynebacterium Ulcerans bacteria.
• The bacteria usually affect the tonsils, throat,
nose, skin and very rarely the heart and the
nerves.

4. Characteristics of the
Diphtheria Bacteria
Aerobic,
Non-motile,
Gram-positive,
Rod shaped,
Produces toxins
This photomicrograph
depicted a number of Gram-positive
Corynebacterium diphtheriae bacteria,
which had been stained using the
methylene blue technique.

5. Spread of Diphtheria
• It spreads when people are in close contact
with discharges from an infected person's
mouth, nose, throat, or skin.
• Communicability may last 4 weeks.

6. Signs and Symptoms
• Sore throat may range from mild to severe with painful swallowing
and hoarseness of the voice.
• Drooling which indicates the obstruction of the airway passage.
• Fever and chills.
• Bloody, watery serosanguineous drainage from the nose.
• Croup-like coughing.
• Stridor, difficulty in breathing or sometimes-rapid breathing.
• Apnea may occur.
• Bluish coloration of the skin may be caused due to lack of oxygen.
• Skin lesions can be seen in cutaneous diphtheria.
• Swollen glands due to the enlarged lymph nodes in the neck (bull
neck).
The characteristic thick membrane of diphtheria infection
in the posterior pharynx.

7. Diagnosis
• Diphtheria can be diagnosed usually by proper
clinical examination, throat culture from the
infected area and blood tests

8. Treatment
• The patient has to be given treatment immediately after
the disease is suspected. A delay in treatment can result
in death or long-term heart disease. In severe cases
there is obstruction of the throat, which may require
intubation or a tracheostomy.
• Antibiotics are used in patients or carriers to destroy C.
diphtheriae and prevent its transmission to others. Some
example include:
– Erythromycin that is given orally or by injection for 14
days.
– Procaine Penicillin G given intramuscularly for 14 days.

9. Prevention
• Diphtheria is easily prevented with the use of a
safe and effective vaccine.
• Most people receive their first vaccination for
the disease as children. This is know as the
DTP vaccine (diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis).

10. Resources
Diphtheria. (n.d.). Retrieved from Medindia website:
http://www.medindia.net/patients/patientinfo/diphtheria.htm
Cheever, F. S., M.D. (2004). Diphtheria. In Encyclopedia Americana (Vol. 9, p. 140). Danbury, CT: Scholastic Library Publishing. (Original work published
1829)
MacGregor RR. Corynebacterium diphtheriae. In: Mandell GL, Bennett JE, Dolan R, eds. Mandell, Douglas, and Bennett’s Principles and Practice of
Infectious Diseases. 7th ed. Orlando, FL: Saunders Elsevier; 2009:chap 205.
Images:
Slide 1
The Historical Medical Library of The College of Physicians of Philadelphia. Koplik, Henry, MD. The Diseases of Infancy and Childhood, 4th ed. Philadelphia: Lea & Febiger, 1918.
Slide 6
Guy, A. M., M.D. (n.d.). Diphtheria in Emergency Medicine. Retrieved from
http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/782051-overview
Slide 4
Diphtheria. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.rightdiagnosis.com/phil/html/
diphtheria/7323.html