title: The pathology of diphtheria.
abstract: Diphtheria is an acute, communicable disease caused by Corynebacterium diphtheriae. The disease is generally characterized by local growth of the bacterium in the pharynx with pseudomembrane formation or, less commonly, in the stomach or lungs; systemic dissemination of toxin then invokes lesions in distant organs. Acute disease of the upper respiratory tract usually involves one or more of the following: tonsillar zones, larynx, soft palate, uvula, and nasal cavities. A recent epidemic in Russia emphasized the role of vaccination in reducing disease in children and adults.
authors.affiliation: Armed Forces Institute of Pathology, Washington, DC 20306, USA. hadfield@afip.osd.mil
authors.forename: T L
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Hadfield
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: McEvoy
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Polotsky
authors.forename: V A
authors.initials: VA
authors.lastname: Tzinserling
authors.forename: A A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Yakovlev
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D003353:Corynebacterium diphtheriae / Q000302:isolation & purification; D004165:Diphtheria / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology*; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D006801:Humans; D014586:USSR / Q000453:epidemiology