What is the COMMONEST cause of death in diphtheritic child?
IIIrd cranial nerve palsy
Myocarditis
Tonsillitis
Septicemia
Diphtheria is an acute infection of the upper respiratory tract or skin caused by toxin-producing Corynebacterium diphtheriae. Impoant complications of diphtheria are diphtheritic myocarditis, polyneuritis and bronchopneumonia. Myocarditis is the most common cause of death in these children with moality varying between 3-25% when associated with early myocarditis. Myocardial dysfunction occur 2-40 days after the onset of pharyngitis. Diphtheritic myocarditis is characterized by rapid thready pulse, thready pulse, indistinct hea sounds, dysrhythmias, cardiac failure and ECG showing ST-T wave changes. Ref: Ogle J.W., Anderson M.S. (2012). Chapter 42. Infections: Bacterial & Spirochetal. In W.W. Hay, Jr., M.J. Levin, R.R. Deterding, J.J. Ross, J.M. Sondheimer (Eds), CURRENT Diagnosis & Treatment: Pediatrics, 21e.