Diphtheria is transmitted to others through close contact with discharge from an infected person's nose, throat, skin, eyes and lesions. 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. Skin lesions may be painful, swollen and reddened.
Symptoms usually appear two to four days after infection, with a range of one to six days.
Untreated people who are infected with the diphtheria germ can be contagious for up to two weeks, but seldom more than four weeks. If treated with appropriate antibiotics, the contagious period can be limited to less than four days. Recovery from diphtheria is not always followed by lasting immunity. This vaccine should be given at two, four, six and 12-15 months of age, and between four and six years of age. Certain antibiotics, such as penicillin and erythromycin, can be prescribed for the treatment of diphtheria.