Diphtheria is an acute, contagious disease produced by the Klebs-Loeffler bacillus. Diphtheria is unusual in that after infection it does not spread in the body, but the bacillus remains at the site of its primary invasion. This site may be the fauces in front of the throat, or the larynx. Very occasionally the bacillus gains access to a wound and gives rise to 'wound diphtheria'. In any case, the disease multiplies and produces a membrane which in the case of the laryngeal type may produce death by mechanical blockage of the air passage. The chief danger however lies in the toxins discharged by the bacillus which enter the blood system and affect the muscles in particular, giving rise to a danger of heart-attacks. Research Diphtheria
Abbreviations
Medicine
Research Diphtheria