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Diphtheria

Diphtheria is an infection caused by a toxin produced by a type of bacteria that most commonly causes a respiratory or skin infection. It creates a thick coating of dead tissue in the throat or nose, making it hard to breathe and swallow. Other diphtheria symptoms include weakness, sore throat, swollen glands in the neck, or fever. Diphtheria can spread when an infected person sneezes or coughs. It can also spread by touching the open sores of someone who has diphtheria, or in rare situations, an object that belongs to them, like a toy.source: 1

Diphtheria used to be a common cause of illness and death for kids in the United States. In the 1920s, there were about 200,000 cases a year. Thanks to most kids getting vaccines that prevent diphtheria, that number has dropped by 99.9%,source: 1 but there are large outbreaks in countries where vaccine rates have gone down.

A number of vaccines include protection against diphtheria, and the most common are DTaP and Tdap.source: 2 (1) The DTaP vaccine helps protect infants and young kids from diphtheria, tetanus, and whooping cough. (2) The Tdap vaccine helps protect preteens, teens, and adults from tetanus, diphtheria, and whooping cough. Talk to your child’s doctor to learn about these vaccines. They are the best way to protect your child, and others, from these diseases.source: 3

Why does my child need to be vaccinated against diphtheria?

Diphtheria can cause serious health problems like an airway blockage and heart or kidney damage. Diphtheria can also be deadly. About 1 of every 10 people with diphtheria will die.source: 4

How safe are the vaccines?

The diphtheria vaccines are safe and have been used for over a century to protect millions of children around the world.source: 1 More information about DTaP and Tdap vaccine safety can be found at the CDC website.

Like any medicine, there's a small chance that vaccines that prevent diphtheria could cause serious reactions. However, getting a diphtheria vaccine is much safer than getting diphtheria.

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VPD Diptheria- Girl, parents and doctor

How effective are the vaccines?

Vaccines that prevent diphtheria are 97% effective.source: 5 The effectiveness of the vaccines decreases over time, which is why kids and adults need to get a booster vaccine every 10 years.

What are the vaccines’ side effects?

Most parents report their children have no side effects, but your child might experience mild side effects that go away in a few days. Those side effects may include soreness, swelling, or redness where the vaccine was given, low fever, chills, feeling tired, throwing up, not feeling hungry, or being fussy.source: 6

Rare side effects from the DTaP vaccine can include seizures (sudden, unusual movements or behavior) from having a high fever (about 1 child in 14,000).source: 7 Seizures related to high fevers (called “febrile seizures”) can be scary but are usually harmless. Other rare side effects include persistent crying for 3 hours or more (up to about 1 child in 1,000) and fever higher than 105 °F (about 1 child in 16,000).source: 7

Understanding the Risks

Getting Diphtheria vs. Getting Vaccinated

Diphtheria

Vaccines to Prevent Diphtheria

Common: Mild to Moderate Symptoms or Side Effects

With prompt medical care, symptoms usually last 1–2 weeks, but complications can last for months. There are two common types of diphtheria. The most serious is respiratory but there is also a cutaneious (skin) type of diphtheria.

Diphtheria can cause issues with breathing and symptoms such as:

  • Thick gray or black coating in nose, throat, and/or airway
  • Throat pain
  • Mild fever
  • Weakness or fatigue
  • Headache
  • Swollen neck glands
  • Problems breathing

Cutaneous diphtheria can also cause sores or shallow ulcers on the skin.

If side effects occur, they are usually mild and last 1–3 days:

  • Soreness, redness, or swelling where the vaccine was given
  • Low-grade fever and chills
  • Being fussy
  • Loss of appetite
  • Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, or stomachache
  • Feeling tired
  • Headache

Rare: More Serious Symptoms, Complications, or Side Effects

  • Airway blockage caused by thick adherent coating
  • Myocarditis (damage to the heart)
  • Nerve damage
  • Kidney failure
  • High fever
  • Crying for 3+ hours
  • Very small risk of seizures caused by fever
  • Severe allergic reaction (generally, for every 1 million vaccines administered in the United States, only about 1–2 doses results in a severe allergic reaction)

Doctors are trained. I follow and trust their recommendation to give my children the best quality of life.

— David C., Father

When does my child need the vaccines? 

Your child needs 3 doses of the primary series of the vaccine from 2 through 6 months of age. Then they need a booster dose at 15 through 18 months and 4 through 6 years of age according to the recommended schedule.source: 1

Older kids need one booster dose of the Tdap vaccine at age 11 or 12 years. The booster dose is part of their routine vaccine schedule. If your child misses the booster dose, talk with your child's doctor about catching up.

Once your child receives the Tdap vaccine at 11 or 12, they should get a dose of Td or Tdap vaccine every 10 years to maintain protection against diphtheria and tetanus. If your child gets a severe or dirty wound, they may need a tetanus dose sooner than 10 years.source: 1

People can get the DTaP, Tdap, or Td vaccines at the same time as other vaccines.source: 8

First Dose

2 months

Second Dose

4 months

Third Dose

6 months

Fourth Dose

Between 15–18 months

Fifth Dose

Between 4–6 years of age 

More information

Learn more:

Sources

  1. CDC: Pink Book: Diphtheria
  2. FDA: Vaccines for Children - A Guide for Parents and Caregivers
  3. CDC: Diphtheria Vaccination
  4. CDC: Diphtheria Symptoms and Complications
  5. CDC: About Diphtheria, Tetanus, and Pertussis Vaccines
  6. CDC: Diphtheria, Tetanus, and Pertussis Vaccine Safety
  7. HHS: Diphtheria
  8. CDC: Multiple Vaccines at Once
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