Diphtheria re-emerges in the unimmunized.

Authors

Paul Anderson, HCA HealthcareFollow
Matthew Solomon, Brown University
Sidhartha Ramlatchan
Paul BanerjeeFollow
Latha Ganti, HCA HealthcareFollow

Division

South Atlantic

Hospital

Coliseum Medical Centers

Document Type

Case Report

Publication Date

12-10-2020

Keywords

Cervical lymphadenopathy, Diphtheria, Pharyngitis

Disciplines

Bacterial Infections and Mycoses | Infectious Disease | Internal Medicine

Abstract

The authors present a case of a 33-year-old African American male with respiratory diphtheria. The patient was initially assumed to have a peritonsillar abscess before various laboratory tests. He complained of dysphagia, throat pain, and shortness of breath. The patient's physical examination, supported by video laryngoscopy imaging and a CT scan, showed swelling of his pharynx. The patient reports that he was recently incarcerated for one year and did not receive immunizations as a child. Following his diagnosis, the patient was treated and subsequently recovered.

Publisher or Conference

IDCases

Recommended Citation

Anderson P, Solomon M, Ramlatchan S, Banerjee P, Ganti L. Diphtheria re-emerges in the unimmunized. IDCases. 2020;23:e01020. Published 2020 Dec 10. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.idcr.2020.e01020