A young girl is brought to her physician by her mother, who says the child has been very sluggish with a fever of 38° C (100.5° F) for a week. The mother noticed that the child's tonsils were red and that the previous day the back of her throat turned a gray color and looked to have a gray membrane on it. What disease should the physician suspect?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The symptoms described are indicative of diphtheria, which is caused by the bacterium Corynebacterium diphtheriae. The gray membrane seen in the throat is characteristic of this disease. Strep throat and tonsillitis may also cause fever and red tonsils, but they do not typically produce a gray membrane. Scarlet fever produces a red rash and is accompanied by a fever and sore throat, but does not produce a gray membrane.

A Young Girl Is Brought to Her Physician by Her