Averages 2 to 5 days.
The overall case-fatality rate for diphtheria is 5%-10%, with higher death rates (up to 20%) among persons younger than 5 and older than 40 years of age. The case-fatality rate for diphtheria has changed very little during the last 50 years. DTaP (diphtheria and tetanus toxoids and acellular pertussis vaccine) is the vaccine of choice for children 6 weeks through 6 years of age. The usual schedule is a primary series of 4 doses at 2, 4, 6, and 15-18 months of age. Due to vaccination programs in the United States, diphtheria is now a rarely reported disease. Corynebacterium diphtheriae is primarily spread by droplets from coughing or sneezing. The incubation period averages 2 to 5 days. The illness is characterized by fever, malaise, and sore throat with a distinguishing thick pseudomembrane present over the involved mucosa. A swab from beneath the pseudomembrane is the preferred specimen for culture. The incubation period of diphtheria is 2 5 days (range, 1 10 days). Disease can involve almost any mucous membrane. For clinical purposes, it is convenient to classify diphtheria into a number of manifestations, depending on the site of disease. Diphtheria is an acute, toxin-mediated disease caused by Corynebacterium diphtheriae. The name of the disease is derived from the Greek diphthera, meaning leather hide. The disease was described in the 5th Century B.C. by Hippocrates, and epidemics were described in the 6th Century A.D. by Aetius. FREE subscriptions for doctors and students... click hereYou have 3 open access pages. The incubation period of a disease refers to the time between contact with a carrier of the disease and development of symptoms. It does not refer to the time to infectivity, which in many instances is much shorter. The incubation periods of infectious diseases is dealt with under the specific diseases.  The incubation period -- the time between getting infected and having symptoms -- is one to three weeks for chlamydia in those people who get symptoms. But 80-90% of females a … nd half of males get no symptoms.  Illness is most common in groups living in crowded conditions. The incubation period is usually 2 to 5 days but occasionally longer. Clinical Description In the respiratory form of the disease, a membrane is formed; this membrane is usually visible on the throat or tonsils. Respiratory diphtheria begins 2–5 days after infection with C. diphtheriae.  Information from CDC Diphtheria is an acute, toxin-mediated disease caused by Corynebacterium diphtheriae. The name of the disease is derived from the Greek diphthera, meaning leather hide. The disease was described in the 5th Century B.C. by Hippocrates, and epidemics were described in the 6th Century A.D. by Aetius. Onset of symptoms of respiratory diphtheria typically follows an incubation period of 2-5 days (range, 1-10 d). Symptoms initially are general and nonspecific, often resembling a typical viral upper respiratory infection (URI). Respiratory involvement typically begins with sore throat and mild pharyngeal inflammation.  The case-fatality rate for diphtheria has changed very little during the last 50 years. The overall case-fatality rate for diphtheria is 5%–10%, with higher death rates (up to 20%) among persons younger than 5 and older than 40 years of age. Before there was treatment for diphtheria, the disease was fatal in up to half of cases. The incubation period of diphtheria is 2-5 days (range, 1-10 days). Diphtheria can involve almost any mucous membrane. For clinical purposes, it is convenient to classify diphtheria into a number of manifestations, depending on the site of disease: Diphtheria once was a major cause of illness and death among children. The U.S. recorded 206,000 cases of diphtheria in 1921, resulting in 15,520 deaths. Starting in the 1920s, diphtheria rates dropped quickly in the U.S. and other countries that began widely vaccinating. Diphtheria is an acute, toxin-mediated disease caused by the bacterium Corynebacterium diphtheriae. The name of the disease is derived from the Greek diphthera, meaning leather hide. The disease was described in the 5th century BCE by Hippocrates, and epidemics were described in the 6th century AD by Aetius. DTaP (diphtheria and tetanus toxoids and acellular pertussis vaccine) is the vaccine of choice for children 6 weeks through 6 years of age. The usual schedule is a primary series of 4 doses at 2, 4, 6, and 15-18 months of age.
http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/pinkbook/dip.html http://www.mayomedicallaboratories.com/test-catalog/Clinical+and+Interpretive/89860 http://www.drlera.com/bacterial_diseases/diphtheria_.htm http://www.gpnotebook.co.uk/simplepage.cfm?ID=1671036992 http://www.answers.com/Q/What_is_the_Incubation_period_for_Diphtheria http://new.dhh.louisiana.gov/assets/oph/Center-PHCH/Center-CH/infectious-epi/EpiManual/DiphtheriaManual.pdf http://www.drlera.com/bacterial_diseases/diphtheria_.htm http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/782051-clinical http://www.cdc.gov/diphtheria/clinicians.html http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/pinkbook/dip.html
incubation period of corynebacterium diphtheriae