What should you know about diphtheria disease symptoms?

Diphtheria often begins with throat discomfort, tiredness, fever, and difficulty swallowing. Hoarseness, enlarged neck glands, and swelling around the neck may follow. A firm grey or white membrane can form over the throat or tonsils and may bleed if disturbed. The toxin can affect breathing and, in serious illness, the heart or nerves. These symptoms overlap with other infections, so they cannot establish the diagnosis by themselves.

Contact a healthcare service promptly and mention any incomplete vaccination, travel, or contact with suspected diphtheria. Call before attending so staff can advise about infection precautions. Avoid scraping the throat membrane, sharing utensils, or having close contact with others. A clinician may collect a throat sample and decide whether treatment should begin before results are available. Routine protection is covered in Childhood Immunisation.

Seek emergency help for breathing difficulty, noisy breathing, blue lips, inability to swallow saliva, drooling, rapidly worsening neck swelling, collapse, or new weakness. Arrange urgent assessment for a worsening sore throat with fever, hoarseness, or a throat coating after possible exposure. Do not wait for severe breathing problems before seeking advice.

Ask which symptoms concern the clinician most, whether testing is needed, how to protect household contacts, and whether your vaccination record requires an update. Ask what changes should prompt emergency care.