Abstract

BACKGROUND Acute Bacterial Pharyngitis is the most common clinical condition presenting as a health care visit. Pharyngitis is inflammation of Pharynx. It may be caused by Bacteria, viruses, sometimes fungi. Most common are Staphylococcus, Group A Streptococcus, Corynebacterium diphtheriae. The name Diphtheria is derived from a greek word Diphtherite meaning Leather hide. Diphtheria being an acute infectious disease affecting the upper respiratory tract which is caused by toxigenic strains of Corynebacterium diphtheriae (CD) and Corynebacterium other than diphtheria (COD)- Corynebacterium ulcerans and Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis.. The organism produces an exotoxin which occurs only when the bacillus is itself infected i.e. lysogenized by a bacteriophage carrying the genetic information for the toxin (tox gene). The toxin has greater affinity for myocardium, adrenals and causes major complications like myocarditis, neuritis. The toxin which is produced at the site is distributed to several organs of the body. Diphtheria toxin is easily absorbed in the surrounding tissues of the patient’s throat, where it induces local inflammatory reaction in the nasopharynx and larynx. There is a serocellular exudate which forms a grayish membrane across the larynx, causing severe acute respiratory obstruction Incubation period is 2-5 days. Severe complications like stridor, respiratory obstruction, myocarditis, nerve palsy, renal insufficiency and death. This study was aimed to isolate, identify and confirm the organism in the laboratory from the throat swabs of clinically suspected cases, correlate clinical disease and immunization status of the individual.

Description