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Risk factors
By Mayo Clinic staffPeople who are at increased risk of contracting diphtheria include:
- Children and adults who don't have up-to-date immunizations
- People living in crowded or unsanitary conditions
- Undernourished people
- People who have a compromised immune system
Diphtheria is rare in the United States and Europe, where health officials have been immunizing children against it for decades. However, diphtheria is still common in developing countries where immunization rates are low. For example, large outbreaks of diphtheria occurred in the 1990s throughout Russia and the independent countries of the former Soviet Union, resulting in some 5,000 deaths. Control measures have since been implemented, but a risk of diphtheria remains in those areas.
Most cases of diphtheria occur in unvaccinated or inadequately vaccinated people. Diphtheria poses a threat to U.S. residents who may not be fully immunized and who travel to other countries or have contact with immigrants or international travelers coming to the United States.
- Diphtheria. World Health Organization. http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs089/en/. Accessed Feb. 12, 2009.
- Diphtheria. The Merck Manuals: The Merck Manual for Healthcare Professionals. http://www.merck.com/mmpe/sec14/ch172/ch172c.html. Accessed Feb. 12, 2009.
- Pegram PS. Epidemiology and clinical features of diphtheria. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Feb. 12, 2009.
- Bortolussi R, et al. Aerobic gram-positive bacilli. In: Cohen J, et al. Cohen & Powderly: Infectious Diseases. 2nd ed. St. Louis, Mo.: Mosby; 2004:2153.
- Daybell DK. Diagnosis and treatment of diphtheria. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Feb. 12, 2009.
- Recommended immunization schedule for persons aged 0 through 6 years. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/recs/schedules/downloads/child/2009/09_0-6yrs_schedule_pr.pdf. Accessed Feb. 12, 2009.
- Vaccines and preventable diseases: Diphtheria vaccination. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd-vac/diphtheria/default.htm. Accessed Feb. 12, 2009.
