Summary
Definition
History and exam
Key diagnostic factors
- typical age group (<15 years or >25 years)
- exposure to infected individual
- travel to endemic regions
- unvaccinated/inadequately vaccinated individuals
- sore throat
- dysphagia or dysphonia
- dyspnea
- croupy cough
- pseudomembrane formation
- swelling of the neck
- skin lesions
- respiratory compromise
Risk factors
- unvaccinated individuals
- inadequately vaccinated individuals
- exposure to an infected individual
- travel to endemic areas
- skin breakdown
- poor hygiene, overcrowding, and poverty
Diagnostic investigations
Investigations to consider
- Elek test for toxigenicity
- diphtheria antibodies
- PCR
Treatment algorithm
Contributors
Authors
Professor of Paediatrics
Al Jalila Children's Specialty Hospital
Dubai
UAE
Disclosures
WA declares that he has no competing interests.
Consultant Paediatrician
Al Jalila Children's Specialty Hospital
Dubai
UAE
Disclosures
SFYA declares that he has no competing interests.
Pediatric Cardiology Fellow
Advocate Hope Children's Hospital
Chicago
IL
Disclosures
NY declares that she has no competing interests.
Peer reviewers
Chief and Professor of Medicine
Division of Infectious Diseases and International Health
University of Virginia Health System
Charlottesville
VA
Disclosures
WAP declares that he has no competing interests.
Professor of Medicine
University of Connecticut Health Center
Farmington
CT
Disclosures
GYW is on the medical advisory boards of the following: Gilead Sciences, Bristol-Myers Squibb, AbbVie, and Intercept.
Associate Professor of Pediatrics
West Virginia University School Of Medicine
Morgantown
WV
Disclosures
LSN declares that she has no competing interests.
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