How common is sore throat in diphtheria?

Diphtheria can inflame the throat and cause pain when swallowing. It may also cause fever, tiredness, swollen glands in the neck, and a thick coating or membrane in the throat. The illness can affect breathing and can spread between people, so a sore throat with marked swelling or a coating should not be managed by waiting at home.

Vaccination lowers the risk of diphtheria, but it does not make every sore throat or every throat coating diphtheria. A clinician may need to examine the throat and arrange testing.

Contact a healthcare professional promptly if diphtheria is possible, and mention recent travel, vaccination history, or contact with someone who was unwell. Avoid close contact and do not share cups, utensils, or towels until you have received medical advice. Do not try to remove a throat membrane yourself.

Seek emergency help for noisy or difficult breathing, inability to swallow saliva, rapidly increasing neck swelling, faintness, or blue lips. Urgent assessment is also needed for a sore throat with a thick grey or white coating, particularly when fever and neck glands are swollen. Keep the person upright while waiting for help if breathing is difficult.

Could this be diphtheria or another throat infection? Does my vaccination history change the assessment? Should household contacts be assessed? What precautions should we follow while awaiting results?