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 yesterday 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

Corynebacterium diphtheriae is carried in the upper respiratory tract and spread by droplet infection or hand-to-mouth contact.The incubation period averages 2 to 5 days.The illness begins gradually and is characterized by low-grade fever, malaise, and a mild sore throat.The most common site of infection is the tonsils or pharynx.The organisms rapidly multiply on the epithelial cells, and the toxigenic strains of C.diphtheriae produce toxin locally, causing tissue necrosis and exudate formation, triggering an inflammatory reaction.This combination of cell necrosis and exudates forms a tough gray to white pseudomembrane, which attaches to the tissues.

A Young Girl Is Brought to Her Physician by Her