Cutaneous and pharyngeal diphtheria imported from the Indian subcontinent.
We report the case of a 32-year-old woman who presented upon returning from India with cutaneous ulcers on the feet and pharyngitis. Microbiological testing showed the causative organism to be a toxigenic strain of Corynebacterium diphtheriae. She was treated successfully with penicillin and diphtheria antitoxin. This case emphasises the importance of maintaining a high index of suspicion for such rare but significant infectious diseases.
Hart
P E
PE
Department of Communicable Diseases, St George's Hospital, London, UK.
Lee
P Y
PY
Macallan
D C
DC
Wansbrough-Jones
M H
MH
D000328:Adult; D004165:Diphtheria / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy; D004166:Diphtheria Antitoxin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D016523:Foot Ulcer / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D010406:Penicillins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010612:Pharyngitis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology*; D014195:Travel
D004166:Diphtheria Antitoxin; D010406:Penicillins