Diphtheria

Came from a greek word Dipthera

meaning leather

 Serious bacterial infection that affects the

mucous membranes of the throat and
nose.

A type of bacteria called Corynebacterium

diphtheria causes diphtheria.
People are also at an increased risk if
they:

Aren’t up to date on their

vaccinations
Visit a country that doesn’t provide
immunizations
Direct contact with an infected
individual
Live in unclean or crowded conditions
 How Is Diphtheria
Diagnosed?
Your doctor will likely perform a physical
exam to check for swollen lymph nodes.
They’ll also ask you about your medical
history and the symptoms you’ve been
having.

Your doctor may believe that you have

diphtheria if they see a gray coating on
your throat or tonsils. To confirm the
diagnosis, they’ll take a sample of the
affected tissue and send it to a laboratory
for testing. A throat culture may also be
taken if your doctor suspects diphtheria
of the skin.
Preventing Diphtheria

•Antibiotics
• Vaccines
•Antitoxins
• DTP(diphtheria
tetanus pertussis)