Diptheria

Diphtheria (Corynebacterium diphtheriae), an acute bacterial infection spread by personal contact, was the most feared of all childhood diseases. Diphtheria may be documented back to ancient Egypt and Greece, but severe recurring outbreaks begin only after 1700. One of every ten children infected died from this disease. Symptoms ranged from severe sore throat to suffocation due to a ‘false membrane’ covering the larynx. The disease primarily affected children under the age of 5. Until treatment became widely available in the 1920s, the public viewed this disease as a death sentence. In the 1880s Dr. Joseph O’Dwyer, a Cleveland native, developed a method of intubating patients (inserting a tube to keep the airway open) to survive the life-threatening phase of diphtheria. Although neither foolproof nor simple to use, O’Dwyer’s intubation instruments comprised a life-saving last resort. Grateful patients, parents, and doctors acclaimed Dr. O’Dwyer, and hailed his instruments as modern medical marvels. Ironically, O’Dwyer lived long enough to see his invention eclipsed by progress in medical science. Diphtheria became a seldom-seen threat to children, but only so long as they had been vaccinated. Before Dr. O’Dwyer perfected his intubation techniques, tracheotomy presented the only viable treatment for diphtheria. This procedure involved cutting open the throat without anesthetic and inserting a tube directly into the trachea. Through this tube, an attendant could maintain con...

Diphtheria vaccines protect people against diphtheria, a dangerous bacterial infection. Most types of diphtheria vaccines protect against diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis (whooping cough). Babies and children receive their first diphtheria vaccines as a five-shot series. Adults typically need a diphtheria booster vaccine once every 10 years. What is the diphtheria vaccine? The diphtheria vaccine is an immunization that prevents Babies and adults need diphtheria vaccines at different times throughout their lives. Providers give you or your child the diphtheria vaccine as a shot. They use a small needle, usually injected into the arm or thigh. Why are diphtheria vaccines necessary? Although diphtheria is rare in developed countries, people can still get the disease. Diphtheria can lead to severe complications, such as Getting a diphtheria vaccine is the best way to protect yourself from infection. When most people in a community get the diphtheria vaccine, the entire community is less likely to get diphtheria. What are the types of diphtheria vaccines? Several vaccines protect people from diphtheria. All of these vaccines protect you from multiple diseases. Babies and children under age 7 can get: • DTaP vaccines (Daptacel®, Quadracel® and Vaxelis®) protect against diphtheria, tetanus (bacterial infection of the central nervous system) and • DT vaccines protect against only diphtheria and tetanus. Older children, teenagers and adults can get: • Tdap vaccines (Adacel® and Bo...

Site Navigation • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Diphtheria is caused by bacteria. However, it is the toxins produced by the bacteria, rather than the bacteria themselves, that primarily cause symptoms. The same is true of tetanus and pertussis. Currently, all three of these diseases can be addressed by a single, combined vaccine. The museum’s collections contain objects that document the unique development of the diphtheria vaccine. In 2017, diphtheria is unfamiliar to many Americans. Yet, before the advent of diphtheria antitoxin and vaccines, the disease was an ever-present source of terror. The illness was especially dangerous for young children, and was known as the “scourge of childhood.” The bacteria that cause diphtheria invade the lining of the respiratory system, where they then produce toxins. As the toxins kill the tissues of the respiratory system, the dead tissue builds up and forms a pseudomembrane – a thick gray layer in the throat and nose that makes breathing and swallowing extremely difficult. The toxins can also damage the kidneys, heart, and nerves. Thus, the disease both poisons and asphyxiates its victims, giving it another name: “the strangling angel.” Even today, the disease is a serious threat. Th...