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Full Definition of DIPHTHERIA. : an acute febrile contagious disease typically marked by the formation of a false membrane especially in the throat and caused by a gram-positive bacterium (Corynebacterium diphtheriae) that produces a toxin causing inflammation of the heart and nervous system.
Diphtheria is an infection that causes a thick covering on the back of the throat. It can lead to breathing problems, heart failure, paralysis and death. Pertussis is an infection also known as whooping cough. It can cause severe coughing spells, vomiting and difficulty speaking and breathing. Up to 5 percent of adolescents and adults who have pertussis either experience complications or are hospitalized as a result of the illness.