diphtheria

E824428

Diphtheria is a serious, potentially life-threatening infectious disease caused by Corynebacterium diphtheriae, characterized by sore throat, fever, and a thick gray membrane in the throat that can obstruct breathing.

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Statements (57)

Predicate Object
instanceOf infectious disease
toxin-mediated disease
affectedSystem cardiovascular system
nervous system
respiratory system
causativeAgent Corynebacterium diphtheriae NERFINISHED
hasCause infection with toxigenic strains of Corynebacterium diphtheriae
hasComplication cardiac arrhythmia
death
heart failure
paralysis
respiratory failure
hasForm cutaneous diphtheria
laryngeal diphtheria
respiratory diphtheria
hasPathologicalFeature local tissue necrosis
pseudomembrane formation on tonsils and pharynx
systemic absorption of diphtheria toxin
hasToxin diphtheria toxin
historicalSignificance major cause of childhood mortality before widespread vaccination
ICD10 A36
incubationPeriod typically 2 to 5 days
isNotifiableDiseaseIn many countries worldwide
modeOfAction inhibition of host cell protein synthesis by diphtheria toxin
prevention DTaP vaccine
Td vaccine booster
Tdap vaccine
diphtheria toxoid vaccine
good respiratory hygiene
riskFactor crowded living conditions
incomplete vaccination
lack of vaccination
poor hygiene
travel to endemic areas
symptom airway obstruction
bull neck swelling
difficulty swallowing
fever
hoarseness
malaise
myocarditis
peripheral neuropathy
sore throat
swollen neck lymph nodes
thick gray pseudomembrane in throat
transmission close person-to-person contact
contact with contaminated objects
respiratory droplets
treatment airway management
antibiotics
diphtheria antitoxin
erythromycin
penicillin
supportive care
vaccineSchedule childhood primary series with periodic boosters
vaccineType inactivated toxoid
zoonoticStatus primarily human disease

Referenced by (1)

Full triples — surface form annotated when it differs from this entity's canonical label.

diphtheria antitoxin treats diphtheria