Academy of Medical Sciences of I.R. Iran Archives of Iranian Medicine 1029-2977 15 3 2012 03 01 A Historical Profile of Diphtheria in Iran during the 19th and 20th Centuries 0 0 EN Mohammad Hossein Azizi Moslem Bahadori Ghanbar-Ali Raees-Jalali Journal Article Diphtheria is a contagious and life-threatening disease historically regarded as a major cause of mortality, particularly in children. Over the past centuries, frequent diphtheria outbreaks have occurred. Herein, after a quick look at the history of diphtheria throughout the world, a historical account of this lethal disease in Iran during the 19th and 20th centuries is presented.