DIPHTHERIA

Question 1

An upper respiratory tract illness characterized by sore throat, low-grade fever, and an adherent membrane of the tonsil(s), pharynx, and/or nose.

Answer 1

Diphtheria

Question 2

What is required for diagnosis

Answer 2

Isolation of Corynebacterium diphtheriae from a clinical specimen, or

• Histopathologic diagnosis of diphtheria.

Question 3

Probable or Confirmed?

In the absence of a more likely diagnosis, an upper respiratory tract illness with
• An adherent membrane of the nose, pharynx, tonsils, or larynx;
• Absence of laboratory confirmation; and
• Lack of epidemiologic linkage to a laboratory-confirmed case of diphtheria.

Answer 3

Probable

Question 4

Probable or confirmed?

A clinically compatible case that is either laboratory-confirmed, or
A clinically compatible case that is epidemiologically linked to a laboratory-confirmed case.

Answer 4

Confirmed

Question 5

how long is the incubation period?

Answer 5

2-5 days