Immunization-Schedule.com

If say I got diphtheria once, do I still need the diphtheria vaccine? Will I not get immunity the natural way?

DTaP (diphtheria and tetanus toxoids and acellular pertussis vaccine) is for children 6 weeks through 6 years of age. The vaccination course consists of of 4 doses at 2,4,6, and 15–18 months of age. The first, second, and third doses of DTaP should be separated by a minimum of 4 weeks. The fourth dose should follow the third dose by no less than 6 months, and should not be administered before 12 months of age. ...

Diphtheria is transmitted mostly from person to person through the discharges of the respiratory tract. Rarely, transmission may occur from skin lesions or article soiled wit discharges from lesions of infected persons.

An infected person may shed the bacteria for about two weeks or less if treated. If no antibiotics are taken an infected person may shed bacteria for about 4 weeks. Chronic carriers may shed bacteria for six months or more.

Diphtheria manifests itself in several parts of the body and the symptoms depend on the site of the disease. Let us discuss the main manifestations :

1.Nasal Diphtheria

Nasal diphtheria is very much like common cold in the initial stages. However, as the disease incubates, the nasal discharge, that contains both mucus and pus, may contain some dried blood.
Nasal diphtheria is usually mild in nature and can be cured by antibiotics.


2.Pharyngeal and Tonsillar ...

Diphtheria is an acute, toxin-mediated disease caused by the bacterium Corynebacterium diphtheriae.