title: Cutaneous and pharyngeal diphtheria imported from the Indian subcontinent.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Communicable Diseases, St George's Hospital, London, UK.
authors.forename: P E
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Hart
authors.forename: P Y
authors.initials: PY
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: D C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Macallan
authors.forename: M H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Wansbrough-Jones
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D004166:Diphtheria Antitoxin; D010406:Penicillins