Respiratory diphtheria presents as a sore throat with low-grade fever and an adherent membrane of the tonsils, pharynx, or nose. Neck swelling is usually present in severe disease. Cutaneous diphtheria presents as infected skin lesions which lack a characteristic appearance.
Diptheria is relatively rare in the United States. Approximately 0.001 cases per 100,000 population in the U.S. since 1980; before the introduction of a vaccine in the 1920s incidence was 100-200 cases per 100,000 population. READ MORE »