What should you know about diphtheria?

The bacteria can spread through respiratory droplets and close contact. Throat symptoms may include sore throat, hoarseness, swollen neck glands, fever, and difficulty swallowing. A thick grey or white coating can form in the throat or nose and may interfere with breathing; attempting to remove it can cause bleeding.

Toxins released by the bacteria can affect organs beyond the throat, including the heart and nervous system. Because early symptoms can resemble other infections, suspected diphtheria needs prompt professional assessment and infection-control advice.

Contact a healthcare service urgently and mention possible exposure, recent travel, vaccination history, and any breathing or swallowing difficulty. Avoid close contact and do not share utensils, towels, or drinks while awaiting advice. Confirmed infection is treated with antibiotic treatment and may require hospital monitoring and care for close contacts.

Call emergency services for noisy or difficult breathing, bluish lips, inability to swallow saliva, rapidly increasing neck swelling, fainting, or severe weakness. A child with a severe sore throat and a visible throat coating needs immediate assessment. Do not try to scrape the coating away.

Ask whether testing and isolation are needed, how long close contacts should be monitored, when normal activities can resume, and whether you or your child need catch-up childhood immunisation or another vaccine dose.