What should you know about respiratory diphtheria?

The infection can cause a sore throat, fever, weakness, swollen glands, and a grey or white coating over the throat or tonsils. The coating may bleed if disturbed. Toxin produced by the bacteria can injure tissues beyond the throat, including the heart and nerves. A person can spread infection through respiratory droplets and close contact, even before the diagnosis is confirmed.

Contact urgent medical services before arriving so infection-control precautions can be arranged. Avoid close contact, sharing utensils, and attending school or work until a clinician gives clear advice. Do not scrape the throat coating or attempt home treatment. Clinicians may arrange testing, specific antitoxin, and antibiotic treatment; close contacts may also need assessment and preventive care.

Call emergency services for noisy or difficult breathing, inability to swallow saliva, drooling, rapidly increasing neck swelling, bluish lips, severe weakness, confusion, or collapse. A sore throat with a coating or marked swelling deserves same-day assessment, especially after contact with a suspected case or when vaccination is incomplete.

Ask whether you need isolation, testing, antitoxin, or antibiotic treatment; how household contacts should be assessed; and which immunisations are due. Tell the clinician when symptoms began, who was exposed, and your vaccination history.