Diphtheria history and symptoms

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Dima Nimri, M.D. [2]

Overview

Respiratory diphtheria presents with a wide range of systemic and respiratory symptoms.^[1]

History and Symptoms

Respiratory diphtheria presents with a wide range of systemic and respiratory symptoms, including:^[1]

Respiratory Symptoms

Sore throat (most common presenting symptom)
Cough
Runny nose (rhinorrhea)
Hoarseness of voice
Nasal obstruction
Coughing of blood (hemoptysis)

Systemic Symptoms

Fever
Chills
Malaise
Palpitations
Nausea
Vomiting
Muscle pain (myalgia)
Neck swelling due to cervical adenopathy

Cutaneous (Skin) Diphtheria

A diphtheria skin lesion on the leg. ^[2]

Cutaneous diphtheria usually presents with ulcers or pustular lesions, which can involve different parts of the body. Lesions may be covered by a grayish-white pseudomembrane, similar to tonsillar exudates of respiratory diphtheria.^[3]

References

↑ ^1.0 ^1.1 Dobie RA, Tobey DN (1979). “Clinical features of diphtheria in the respiratory tract”. JAMA. 242 (20): 2197–201. PMID 490806.
↑ Center for Disease Control and Prevention http://phil.cdc.gov/phil/details.asp Accessed on Oct. 7, 2016.
↑ Rappold LC, Vogelgsang L, Klein S, Bode K, Enk AH, Haenssle HA (2016). “Primary cutaneous diphtheria: management, diagnostic workup, and treatment as exemplified by a rare case report”. J Dtsch Dermatol Ges. 14 (7): 734–6. doi:10.1111/ddg.12722. PMID 27373251.

Template:WikiDoc Sources

[pmid490806-1] 1.0 ^1.1 Dobie RA, Tobey DN (1979). “Clinical features of diphtheria in the respiratory tract”. JAMA. 242 (20): 2197–201. PMID 490806.

[CDC_cutaneous-2] Center for Disease Control and Prevention http://phil.cdc.gov/phil/details.asp Accessed on Oct. 7, 2016.

[pmid27373251-3] Rappold LC, Vogelgsang L, Klein S, Bode K, Enk AH, Haenssle HA (2016). “Primary cutaneous diphtheria: management, diagnostic workup, and treatment as exemplified by a rare case report”. J Dtsch Dermatol Ges. 14 (7): 734–6. doi:10.1111/ddg.12722. PMID 27373251.

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