What should you know about diphtheria symptoms and treatment?

Throat diphtheria can cause a sore throat, fever, tiredness, hoarseness, painful swallowing and a thick grey or white coating on the tonsils or throat. Neck glands may swell, creating a broad or puffy appearance. Skin diphtheria may cause an ulcer that heals slowly. The illness can worsen breathing when the coating or swelling narrows the airway.

Symptoms can resemble other infections, so they cannot confirm diphtheria alone. A clinician considers the examination, exposure history and laboratory testing. Because the bacteria can spread to close contacts, suspected cases need prompt advice about avoiding contact and protecting others.

Contact a healthcare service urgently if diphtheria is possible. Treatment commonly involves diphtheria antitoxin and antibiotics, with the antitoxin aimed at neutralising toxin and antibiotics aimed at eliminating the bacteria. Hospital monitoring may be needed for breathing, swallowing, heart function or nerve problems. Close contacts may need testing, preventive antibiotics and vaccination review. Learn more through Antibiotic Treatment and Childhood Immunisation.

Call emergency services for difficult or noisy breathing, inability to swallow saliva, blue lips, rapidly increasing neck swelling, fainting, chest discomfort or sudden marked weakness. Keep the person upright while waiting for help if breathing is difficult, and avoid examining or scraping a throat coating at home. Prompt care matters because airway and toxin complications can progress quickly.

Ask which tests are needed, whether treatment should begin before results, how long contact precautions last, and what follow-up checks the heart or nerves require.