What symptoms does diphtheria cause?
After an incubation period of usually between two and five days the onset of the disease is gradual and the new case may become generally unwell with a mild fever, headache, rapid pulse and sore throat, as well as problems with swallowing. The toxin produced by the bacterium causes swelling of the soft tissues of the neck together with swollen glands due to the enlarged lymph nodes may cause the typical ‘bull neck’ appearance. Swelling of the throat may also occur leading to breathing difficulties. This swelling is due to inflammation of the lining of the throat also resulting in an exudate or ‘membrane’ which is typically pale grey or white in colour, thick and firmly stuck to the throat and therefore hard to remove. There may often be high pitched sound on breathing and hoarseness. Sometimes the infection is confined to the nose causing a foul smelling, bloodstained discharge. Progression of the illness then depends on whether or not the infecting strain of C. diphtheriae produces to
