Science/Medicine : Vulnerability to Diphtheria

Three out of four adults may be vulnerable to deadly diphtheria even if they were vaccinated against the disease as children, according to two Vanderbilt University doctors who say that the medical community should work to have all adults revaccinated regularly.

The warning, published in the current New England Journal of Medicine, comes in the wake of a diphtheria outbreak in Scandanavia where virtually all of the people were vaccinated as children.

Drs. David T. Karzon and Kathryn M. Edwards of Vanderbilt’s School of Medicine say the effects of the vaccine given in childhood usually wear off, leaving adults with no defense against the disease.

“In many areas of the United States, a high proportion of the population . . . is known to be susceptible,” they said.

Diphtheria is not at present a problem in the United States, only 18 cases have been reported since 1980, because the bacteria is not as common as it is in other regions such as Central and South America, Africa and Asia.

Diphtheria is spread by contact with an infected person or with contaminated food. Two to six days later, a sore throat appears, along with weakness and a mild fever. Eventually the throat may close and poison released by the bacteria can damage the heart and nerves.

Untreated, the person may die of heart failure or other problems within four days.