Diphtheria once was a major cause of illness and death among children. The toxin itself may travel to the heart, muscle, kidneys, and liver, where it may temporarily or permanently damage these organs.Complications from diphtheria may include myocarditis (damage to the heart muscle), neuritis (inflammation of nerves, which may contribute to nerve damage, paralysis, respiratory failure, and pneumonia), airway obstruction, and ear infection.Diphtheria treatment today involves use of antibiotics to kill the diphtheria bacteria plus antitoxin to neutralize the toxins secreted by the bacteria. The infection is caused by bacteria called The pseudomembrane is formed from waste products and proteins caused by the toxin secreted by the bacteria. The adult product can protect against tetanus and diphtheria (a vaccine known as Td) or all three diseases (a vaccine known as Tdap). In 2007, 4,190 cases of diphtheria were reported, which is likely an underestimate of the actual number of cases.Diphtheria is transmitted from person to person, usually via respiratory droplets. Diphtheria is an infectious disease caused by the bacterium Vaccination against diphtheria has reduced the mortality and morbidity of diphtheria dramatically, however diphtheria is still a significant child health problem in countries with poor EPI coverage. The illness has an acute onset and the main characteristics are sore throat, low fever and swollen glands in the neck, and the toxin may, in severe cases, cause myocarditis or peripheral neuropathy. In 2014, 7,321 cases of diphtheria were reported to the World Health Organization, but there are likely many more cases. WHO, Regional Office for the Western Pacific. Diphtheria is an infectious disease caused by the bacterium Corynebacterium diphtheria, which primarily infects the throat and upper airways, and produces a toxin affecting other organs. History of Diphtheria. 1947 The United States recorded 206,000 cases of diphtheria in 1921, resulting in 15,520 deaths. Diphtheria patients are usually kept in isolation until they are no longer capable of infecting others, usually about 48 hours after antibiotic treatment begins.The current U.S. childhood immunization schedule for diphtheria includes five diphtheria toxoid immunizations before age six years, plus one booster dose for adolescents. Diphtheria once was a major cause of illness and death among children. A 1925 diphtheria outbreak in Alaska led to the now-famous Nenana-to-Nome dog sled run, delivering antitoxin to treat sick children. United Kingdom 1926 : Medical development : Fluid form of diphtheria toxoid is licensed in the United States. In countries endemic for diphtheria, the disease occurs mostly as sporadic cases or in small outbreaks. 1858: Scarlet fever also came in waves. Diphtheria notifications, cases and deaths from 1986 to 2014 (table) Diphtheria cases* and deaths, England and Wales from 1914 to 2014 (graph). (A toxoid is a toxin modified to invoke an antibody response, but not capable of causing disease.) Treatment involves administering diphtheria antitoxin to neutralize the effects of the toxin, as well as antibiotics to kill the bacteria.Diphtheria vaccine is a bacterial toxoid, ie. A similar number of cases and deaths are believed to occur every year in developing countries at the time. Characterized as “The Strangling Angel of Children,” diphtheria is a bacterial infection caused by Corynebacterium diphtheria, transmitted through close contact with an infected individual, usually via respiratory secretions spread through the air. The vaccine is normally given in combination with other vaccines as DTwP/DTaP vaccine or pentavalent vaccine. Diphtheria death rates range from about 20% for those under age five and over age 40, to 5-10% for those aged 5-40 years. The United States recorded 206,000 cases of diphtheria in 1921, resulting in 15,520 deaths. [2] Diphtheria. a toxin whose toxicity has been inactivated. Diphtheria is fatal in 5 - 10% of cases, with a higher mortality rate in young children. The disease was given its official named in 1826 by French physician Pierre Bretonneau, who called it Some people can be chronic carriers without knowing it. United States: 1943 : Epidemic : Aproximately one million diphtheria cases and 50,000 deaths occur in Europe. At the same time most cancers were misdiagnosed as consumption or old age, and until 1883 fatal blood loss due to cervical cancer in post-menopausal women was called menstruation of old age—a marvel but also a portent of death.