Diphtheria is a highly contagious and potentially life-threatening bacterial infection caused by a bacterium called Corynebacterium Diphtheriae. 

The infection spreads from person to person through droplets released into the air when a person coughs or sneezes, as well as through direct, prolonged contact with an infected person.

Signs and symptoms

Signs and symptoms usually start two – five days after exposure and range from mild to severe.

Look out for the following:

• fever and chills 
• sore throat 
• loss of appetite 
• nausea and vomiting 
• a thick white or grey coating or membrane on the back of the nose or throat that can block the airway and make it hard to swallow or breathe 
• Swelling of the glands in the neck

Who is at risk?

• Unvaccinated children or children who did not receive all the immunisation on the Extended Programme of Immunisation (EPI). 
• Vaccinated adults exposed to the bacterium as immunity decreases with time. 
• People living in densely populated areas or crowded conditions where the infection is present.

Treatment

If you have any of the above-mentioned symptoms or you have been in contact with a confirmed case, visit your nearest healthcare facility immediately.

Prevention

• Diphtheria is preventable with routine vaccinations for children at the age of 6 weeks, 10 weeks and 14 weeks. A booster vaccine is administered at 18 months, 6 and 12 years of age. 
• The vaccine is safe, effective and available free of charge at all City clinics and healthcare facilities.

Complications

The most serious complications include:

• difficulty breathing (respiratory obstruction) 
• inflammation of the middle layer of the heart wall (Myocarditis) that can lead to heart failure and death.

For more information, visit the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) website: www.nicd.ac.za.