The toxin damages tissue in the area of infection. Most typically in the throat or nose. the infection produces a gray membrane which is made of dead cells and bacteria. This membrane is known to obstruct breathing.
Diphtheria is a bacterial infection that most commonly affects the tonsils, throat, nose, and skin. The disease is spread from person to person through droplet transmission, which occurs when bacteria are inhaled after an infected person coughs, sneezes, or even laughs.
