Biomaterial Database

Acute streptococcal pharyngitis misdiagnosed as faucial diphtheria: a cautionary lesson. 1993

N Brown, and W Lagani

Department of Clinical Sciences, University of Papua New Guinea, Port Morseby.

A confirmed case of diphtheria has not been reported in Papua New Guinea for many years, though it should be considered dormant rather than extinct. Thus, most clinicians nowadays are unfamiliar with the classical features of the disease. We report a case of streptococcal pharyngitis which had several features of diphtheria leading to unnecessary and potentially harmful intervention. Some words of caution and various recommendations are made.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D010406	Penicillins	A group of antibiotics that contain 6-aminopenicillanic acid with a side chain attached to the 6-amino group. The penicillin nucleus is the chief structural requirement for biological activity. The side-chain structure determines many of the antibacterial and pharmacological characteristics. (Goodman and Gilman's The Pharmacological Basis of Therapeutics, 8th ed, p1065)	Antibiotics, Penicillin,Penicillin,Penicillin Antibiotics
D010612	Pharyngitis	Inflammation of the throat (PHARYNX).	Sore Throat,Pharyngitides,Sore Throats,Throat, Sore
D002648	Child	A person 6 to 12 years of age. An individual 2 to 5 years old is CHILD, PRESCHOOL.	Children
D003937	Diagnosis, Differential	Determination of which one of two or more diseases or conditions a patient is suffering from by systematically comparing and contrasting results of diagnostic measures.	Diagnoses, Differential,Differential Diagnoses,Differential Diagnosis
D003951	Diagnostic Errors	Incorrect or incomplete diagnoses following clinical or technical diagnostic procedures.	Diagnostic Blind Spots,Errors, Diagnostic,Misdiagnosis,Blind Spot, Diagnostic,Blind Spots, Diagnostic,Diagnostic Blind Spot,Diagnostic Error,Error, Diagnostic,Misdiagnoses
D004165	Diphtheria	A localized infection of mucous membranes or skin caused by toxigenic strains of CORYNEBACTERIUM DIPHTHERIAE. It is characterized by the presence of a pseudomembrane at the site of infection. DIPHTHERIA TOXIN, produced by C. diphtheriae, can cause myocarditis, polyneuritis, and other systemic toxic effects.	Corynebacterium diphtheriae Infection,Corynebacterium diphtheriae Infections,Infection, Corynebacterium diphtheriae
D005260	Female		Females
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000208	Acute Disease	Disease having a short and relatively severe course.	Acute Diseases,Disease, Acute,Diseases, Acute
D013290	Streptococcal Infections	Infections with bacteria of the genus STREPTOCOCCUS.	Group A Strep Infection,Group A Streptococcal Infection,Group A Streptococcal Infections,Group B Strep Infection,Group B Streptococcal Infection,Group B Streptococcal Infections,Infections, Streptococcal,Infection, Streptococcal,Streptococcal Infection