Diphtheria is a disease caused by bacteria that usually affect the tonsils, throat, nose, or skin.
Diphtheria is a rare disease that is most likely to occur where people who have not been vaccinated live in crowded conditions. Diphtheria is transmitted to others through close contact with discharge from an infected person's nose, throat, skin, and eyes. There are two types of diphtheria. One type involves the nose and throat, and the other involves the skin. Symptoms include sore throat, low-grade fever and enlarged lymph nodes located in the neck.