Diphtheria in Children
Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on May 4, 2025.
Diphtheria is a disease caused by a bacterial infection. The infection spreads quickly from person to person through sneezing or coughing. It can also be passed if a person uses a drinking glass or other item used by an infected person. The bacteria that cause diphtheria get into your child's nose, throat, and airway and produce a toxin. The toxin can block these passages or cause pneumonia. The toxin can also spread through your child's bloodstream and cause life-threatening damage to his or her heart or kidneys. It can also cause nerve damage that leads to paralysis.
DISCHARGE INSTRUCTIONS:
Call your local emergency number (911 in the US) if:
- Your child has severe trouble breathing.
Call your child's doctor if:
- Your child has new or worsening trouble breathing or swallowing.
- Your child's heartbeat is very fast or not regular.
- Your child needs a diphtheria booster shot.
- You have questions or concerns about your child's condition or care.
Medicines:
- Antibiotics may be given to kill any diphtheria bacteria that are still alive after treatment.
- Give your child's medicine as directed. Contact your child's healthcare provider if you think the medicine is not working as expected. Tell the provider if your child is allergic to any medicine. Keep a current list of the medicines, vitamins, and herbs your child takes. Include the amounts, and when, how, and why they are taken. Bring the list or the medicines in their containers to follow-up visits. Carry your child's medicine list with you in case of an emergency.
Help your child rest
until he or she is fully recovered after leaving the hospital. This may take 4 to 6 weeks. Your child's healthcare provider will tell you if he or she needs to be on bedrest. This means your child stays in bed and does not go to school or do other daily activities.
Help your child prevent the spread of diphtheria:
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- Help your child protect others from diphtheria. If your child is infected, he or she may infect others for up to 4 weeks. Take precautions, even if your child does not have symptoms of diphtheria. Keep your child home from school or daycare until your provider says it is okay to return. Do not let anyone use your child's drinking cup. Everyone who lives with your child will need to see his or her healthcare provider. The provider will do a throat swab to check for infection. The provider will also ask about the person's vaccine history. A booster shot may be given. Antibiotics may also be given, even if the person does not have symptoms.
- Have your child wash his or her hands often. He or she should wash after using the bathroom and before preparing or eating food. Have your child use soap and water. Show him or her how to rub soapy hands together, lacing the fingers. Wash the front and back of the hands, and in between the fingers. The fingers of one hand can scrub under the fingernails of the other hand. Teach your child to wash for at least 20 seconds. Use a timer, or sing a song that is at least 20 seconds. An example is the happy birthday song 2 times. Have your child rinse with warm, running water for several seconds. Then dry with a clean towel or paper towel. Your older child can use hand sanitizer that contains alcohol if soap and water are not available.
- Remind your child to cover a sneeze or cough. Show your child how to use a tissue to cover his or her mouth and nose. Have your child throw the tissue away in a trash can right away. Then your child should wash his or her hands well or use a hand sanitizer. Show your child how to use the bend of his or her arm if a tissue is not available.
- Clean surfaces often. Clean doorknobs, countertops, cell phones, and other surfaces that are touched often. Use a disinfecting wipe, a single-use sponge, or a cloth you can wash and reuse. Use disinfecting cleaners if you do not have wipes. You can create a disinfecting cleaner by mixing 1 part bleach with 10 parts water.
- Talk to your child's provider about vaccines. A diphtheria infection may not make your child immune from another infection. The DTaP, Tdap, and Td vaccines help protect against diphtheria. Your child's provider can help you create a schedule so you know when to bring your child in. If your adolescent is pregnant, she should receive 1 dose of Tdap during weeks 27 to 36.
Treatment options
The following list of medications are related to or used in the treatment of this condition.
Follow up with your child's doctor as directed:
Write down your questions so you remember to ask them during your visits.
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The above information is an educational aid only. It is not intended as medical advice for individual conditions or treatments. Talk to your doctor, nurse or pharmacist before following any medical regimen to see if it is safe and effective for you.
Further information
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