Do doctors see a lot of patients with diphtheria?

Fortunately NO: Diphtheria is an upper airway infection by a bacteria, corynebacterium diphtheria, which causes sore throat, fever, and a classic appearing (and somewhat nasty) infectious "membrane" on your tonsils. Sometimes just the skin is infected. Diphtheria is extremely rare in north america (and another reason to get your vaccines!). Diphtheria protection is provided in the typical "tetanus shot" (td).