What should you know about cause of diphtheria?

The bacteria can settle in the nose or throat and produce a toxin that damages nearby tissue. A thick grey or white coating may form over the throat or tonsils, making swallowing or breathing difficult. Early illness can resemble a sore throat with fever, weakness, swollen neck glands, or a hoarse voice. Some infected people have mild symptoms or carry the bacteria without obvious illness, so close contacts may be exposed without recognising it. Vaccination lowers the risk, but protection and vaccination history still need checking when exposure is suspected.

Contact a healthcare service urgently if diphtheria is suspected, especially after close contact with a person who has the infection or if a throat coating and breathing difficulty occur together. Avoid close contact, do not share cups or utensils, and follow public-health instructions about testing and isolation. Clinicians may arrange samples, antibiotics, and antitoxin treatment when indicated; treatment should not wait for symptoms to become severe. Close contacts may need assessment and preventive treatment.

Seek emergency care for noisy or difficult breathing, bluish lips, inability to swallow saliva, rapidly increasing neck swelling, confusion, or collapse. Prompt medical review is needed for a persistent sore throat with fever, marked weakness, or a grey throat coating.

Could this require testing for diphtheria? Do I need antibiotics, antitoxin, or contact precautions? Are my vaccinations and those of close household members up to date?