Diphtheria Control

Control of diphtheria: guidance for consultants in communicable disease control

242 VOL 2 NO 4 DECEMBER 1999 Introduction Current guidelines for the management of diphtheria in Europe were prepared by the World Health Organization (WHO) European Region in response to the re-emergence of diphtheria in the former Soviet Union1. A recent incident in London, in which a laboratory diagnosed a case of diphtheria in error and caused a false alarm2, led us to review the guidelines...

Diphtheria

Gentlemen,?I have occasionally heard a man, about to read a paper upon some subject, commence by expressing his sense of his unfitness for the task he has undertaken. I have, I must confess, looked upon this appeal, ad misericordiam, with much suspicion, believing the writer, did he not in his own heart believe himself particularly well-fitted for the work, would not have undertaken it. To-day,...

Diphtheria

Diphtheria Immunization *

AT the beginning of the twentieth century diphtheria occupied a unique position in contrast to other infectious diseases. Its symptoms and course were well known and accurately described, the causal organism definitely recognized, and a specific remedy was available for its treatment, yet in spite of this wealth of scientific knowledge the control and prevention of the disease had proved a comp...

Diphtheria Revisited.

Staphylococcus, E. Coli, Pseudomonas, Aerobacter and others); 8 combinations of diphtheria and pyogenic organisms (also including pneumococcus), and 9 combinations of monilia (various types of candida) and pyogenic organisms. Clinically all cases of proven diphtheria were above 6 months of age. Fever was the most common presentation, and ten children developed obstructive breathing necessitatin...