Diphtheria
Diphtheria is an uncommon disease caused by the bacterium
Corynebacterium diphtheriae
and has two main forms, respiratory and cutaneous. Respiratory diphtheria is typically caused
by toxin-producing (toxigenic) strains of
C. diphtheriae; cutaneous disease can be
caused by either toxigenic or nontoxigenic strains. In the respiratory form of the disease,
a membrane is formed; this membrane is usually visible on the throat or tonsils
but it can also be on the nasal septum. Prior to immunizations, 30-50 % of
diptheria cases died. Respiratory
diphtheria begins 2–5 days after infection with
C. diphtheriae. Initial symptoms of illness
include a sore throat and low-grade fever; swelling of the neck (“bullneck”) from
inflammation can develop and is a sign of severe disease. Persons may die from asphyxiation
when the membrane obstructs breathing. Other complications of respiratory diphtheria are
caused by remote effects of the diphtheria toxin, including myocarditis (inflammation of the
heart) and nerve paralysis. The respiratory form of diphtheria usually lasts several days,
and complications can persist for months.
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