D iphtheria is an acute infectious and communicable disease, caused by toxigenic strains of the Gram-positive rod Corynebacterium diphtheriae. The following discussion presents the unusual case of a patient, substantially older than the age group with which diphtheria is usually associated, who contracted the disease as a result of treatment he was receiving for a totally unrelated condition.
Report of a Case
On Jan 1, 1977, a 44-year-old man, who was being treated with 75 mg of prednisone per day for disseminated ocular histoplasmosis he had contracted in October 1976, began to suffer from a sore throat. His condition progressively worsened during the next five days, bringing increased difficulty in swallowing and speaking. Examination revealed an inflamed posterior pharynx and three prominent whitish ulcerations on the right septal mucosa, the base of the tongue, and the soft palate. The patient was hospitalized on Jan 6 and symptomatic treatment for relief