RT Book, Section
A1 Overturf, Gary D.
A2 Rudolph, Colin D.
A2 Rudolph, Abraham M.
A2 Lister, George E.
A2 First, Lewis R.
A2 Gershon, Anne A.
SR Print(0)
ID 7025730
T1 Chapter 261. Diphtheria
T2 Rudolph's Pediatrics, 22e
YR 2011
FD 2011
PB The McGraw-Hill Companies
PP New York, NY
SN 978-0-07-149723-7
LK accesspediatrics.mhmedical.com/content.aspx?aid=7025730
RD 2024/10/13
AB Diphtheria,  caused  by  Corynebacterium  diphtheriae,  occurs  worldwide.  Toxigenic  strains  produce  a  protein  toxin  that  leads  to  the  formation  of  pseudomembranes  in  the  pharynx  and  respiratory  tract,  as  well  as  systemic  toxicity  including  myocarditis  and  polyneuropathy.  It  may  present  at  any  time  of  the  year,  although  it  is  most  common  during  winter.  Because  humans  are  the  only  significant  reservoir,  closeness  and  duration  of  contact  with  an  ill  person  or  a  healthy  carrier  are  important  determinants  of  infection  spread.  As  a  result,  attack  rates  in  households  and  in  crowded  living  conditions  are  high.