Diphtheria

Acute respiratory tract infection typically presenting as a membranous pharyngitis, caused by the gram-positive facultative anaerobic bacterium Corynebacterium diphtheriae

Greek name ...

Membranous pharyngotonsillar diphtheria

• Sore throat

• Malaise, fever, and prostration

Nasal diphtheria

• Rhinorrhea (often unilateral)

• Often chronic, mild course

Obstructive laryngotracheit...

Appropriate health care generally entails:

• Consider admission to monitor cardiac and respiratory status (must act on presumptive diagnosis because therapy cannot wait for cu...

ECG, cardiac enzymes, neurologic status, and respiratory status; seri...

American Academy of Pediatrics. Diphtheria. In: Pickering LK, Baker CJ, Kimberlin DW, et al, eds. Red Book: 2009 Report of the Committee on Infectious Diseases. 28th ed. Elk Grove ...

A36.9 Diphtheria, unspecified

A36.0 Pharyngeal diphtheria

A36.1 Nasopharyngeal diphtheria

Culture, check immunization status, and consider antimicrobial prophylaxis (penicillin or erythromycin) for close contacts of known cases of C. diphtheriae.

Tdap is routinely recommende...