Diphtheria: MedlinePlus

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Diphtheria: MedlinePlus

 

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Diphtheria

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Diphtheria is a serious bacterial infection. You can catch it from a person who has the infection and coughs or sneezes. It usually affects the nose and throat and causes a bad sore throat, swollen glands, fever, and chills. But if it is not properly diagnosed and treated it produces a poison in the body that can cause serious complications such as heart failure or paralysis.
The diphtheria, pertussis and tetanus (DPT) vaccine can prevent diphtheria, but its protection does not last forever. Adults should get another dose, or booster, every 10 years. Diphtheria is very rare in the United States because of the vaccine.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Diphtheria Diagnosis and Treatment

05/28/2013 12:47 PM EDT

Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Related MedlinePlus Page: Diphtheria

About Diphtheria

05/28/2013 12:47 PM EDT

Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Related MedlinePlus Page: Diphtheria

Diphtheria Complications

05/28/2013 12:47 PM EDT

Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Related MedlinePlus Page: Diphtheria

Diphtheria Disease Villain

05/28/2013 12:47 PM EDT

Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Related MedlinePlus Page: Diphtheria

Diphtheria Symptoms

05/28/2013 12:47 PM EDT

Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Related MedlinePlus Page: Diphtheria

MEDICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA  

• Diphtheria
• DTaP immunization (vaccine)
• Tdap vaccine

Related Topics

• Childhood Immunization
• Ear, Nose and Throat
• Infections

National Institutes of Health

• The primary NIH organization for research on Diphtheria is the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases

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• Overviews

  • Diphtheria(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
  • Facts about Diphtheria for Adults(National Foundation for Infectious Diseases) - PDF

• Diagnosis/Symptoms

  • Diphtheria Symptoms(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)

• Treatment

  • Diphtheria Diagnosis and Treatment(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)

• Prevention/Screening

  • Current Vaccine Shortages and Delays(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
  • Diphtheria Tetanus & Pertussis Vaccines: What You Need to Know(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) - PDF
  • Diphtheria Vaccination: Who Needs It?(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
  • Tetanus, Diphtheria (Td) or Tetanus, Diphtheria, Pertussis (Tdap) Vaccine(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) - PDF
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• Related Issues

  • Diphtheria Complications(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
  • Diphtheria: Health Information for International Travel(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
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• Pictures & Photographs

  • Diphtheria Photos(Immunization Action Coalition)
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• Clinical Trials

  • ClinicalTrials.gov: Diphtheria(National Institutes of Health)
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• Journal Articles

  References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)
  • Article: Coping with a pertussis outbreak in Alamance County, North Carolina.
  • Article: Vaccine update: the latest from ACIP.
  • Article: Waning immunity to pertussis following 5 doses of DTaP.
  • Diphtheria -- see more articles
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• Organizations

  • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
  • Also available in Spanish
  • National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
  • World Health Organization
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• Statistics

  • Diphtheria: Immunization Surveillance, Assessment and Monitoring(World Health Organization)
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• Children

  • Diphtheria (For Parents)(Nemours Foundation)
  • Also available in Spanish
  • Diphtheria Disease Villain(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
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• Patient Handouts

  • Diphtheria
  • Also available in Spanish
  • Diphtheria Tetanus & Pertussis Vaccines: What You Need to Know(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) - PDF
  • Diphtheria: Information for Parents(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, American Academy of Pediatrics, American Academy of Family Physicians) - PDF
  • DTaP immunization (vaccine)
  • Also available in Spanish
  • Tetanus, Diphtheria (Td) or Tetanus, Diphtheria, Pertussis (Tdap) Vaccine(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) - PDF