Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention — Content from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (public domain).
Learn about diphtheria: types, cause, risk factors, treatment, and prevention.
May 12, 2025
Respiratory diphtheria causes more serious symptoms and disease than diphtheria skin infections.
May 12, 2025
People of all ages should get vaccinated against diphtheria.
May 12, 2025
Healthcare providers
Diphtheria is an acute disease that’s rare in the United States.
May 12, 2025
Diagnosis and treatment
* [Clinical Features](</diphtheria/hcp/clinical-signs/index.html>)
Respiratory and cutaneous diphtheria are the most common disease presentations.
* [Clinical Guidance](</diphtheria/hcp/clinical-guidance/index.html>)
Information on diagnosis, testing, treatment, and prevention of diphtheria.
* [Diphtheria Antitoxin (DAT)](</diphtheria/hcp/dat/index.html>)
CDC can distribute diphtheria antitoxin (DAT) to healthcare providers to treat diphtheria.
Public health professionals
CDC tracks diphtheria cases nationally. Diphtheria is now an uncommon disease in the United States.
May 12, 2025
CDC has the only U.S. laboratory that performs specialized testing to confirm diphtheria diagnoses.
May 12, 2025
CDC has a laboratory focused on innovative research related to pertussis and diphtheria.
Apr. 2, 2024