This site is intended for healthcare professionals

Go to /sign-in page

You can view 5 more pages before signing in

Complications

Last reviewed dd mmm yyyy. Last edited dd mmm yyyy

Authoring team

complications caused by diphtheria toxins

Both C. diphtheriae and C. ulcerans produce an exotoxin which may result in local tissue necrosis and toxaemia and systemic complications (when absorbed into the bloodstream) (1)

  • the risk of complications is inversely proportional to the number of diphtheria toxoid vaccines received previously by the patient

Possible complications include:

  • cardiac
  • the risk of developing cardiac complications is associated with the extent and the severity of the bull neck and pseudomembrane coverage of the tonsils
  • Diphtheric myocarditis
    • seen in around two thirds of patients
    • typically occurs 1-2 weeks after the onset of respiratory symptoms
    • associated electrocardiographic changes predicts a three- to fourfold higher mortality rate
  • may also cause conduction disturbance, arrhythmias congestive heart failure and circulatory collapse
  • neurological
  • is also associated with the extent and the severity of the primary respiratory infection
  • may cause regurgitation or aspiration and oculomotor and ciliary paralysis due to involvement of the soft palate, posterior pharyngeal wall and cranial nerves (2)

Reference:


Create an account to add page annotations

Annotations allow you to add information to this page that would be handy to have on hand during a consultation. E.g. a website or number. This information will always show when you visit this page.

The content herein is provided for informational purposes and does not replace the need to apply professional clinical judgement when diagnosing or treating any medical condition. A licensed medical practitioner should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions.

Connect

Copyright 2024 Oxbridge Solutions Limited, a subsidiary of OmniaMed Communications Limited. All rights reserved. Any distribution or duplication of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited. Oxbridge Solutions receives funding from advertising but maintains editorial independence.