title: A diphtheria outbreak in Assam, India.
abstract: Between May and July 2009 there was a small outbreak of diphtheria in adults in Assam, India, with 13 confirmed cases, 8 males and 5 females. The mean age of the confirmed patients was 21.8 +/- 10.5 years. Common signs and symptoms of these patients included low grade fever, sore throat and pseudomembranes on the tonsils. The case fatality rate was 30.8%. Neurological complications were observed in one case. None of the patients received antidiphtheric serum (ADS) since none was available.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Assam Medical College, Dibrugarh-786002, Assam, India. lahari.saikia@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Lahari
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Saikia
authors.forename: Reema
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Nath
authors.forename: Naba Jyoti
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Saikia
authors.forename: Gargi
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Choudhury
authors.forename: Mili
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sarkar
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D004165:Diphtheria / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007194:India / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged