In 1921, there were more than 200,000 cases of diphtheria per year in the United States. Today, the disease is considered rare, with less than ten cases per year reported. Although nearly obliterated, diphtheria can still present. The groups most frequently affected by the disease are adults over age 60, and children under five years of age.
Cutaneous diphtheria is a localized infection generally occurring in an extremity.
The lesions do not have a distinctive appearance but are usually painful, red, and draining. This form of the disease is not often spread to the respiratory tract and therefore these patients rarely develop complications. The respiratory form of the disease is often more severe. A characteristic pseudomembrane forms most often in the tonsillar area. This is composed of dead tissue, leukocytes, and bacteria.