A case of toxigenic, pharyngeal diphtheria in Australia.

Abstract

A 42- year- old woman presented to the Sunshine Coast University Hospital, Queensland, with a 5- day history of odynophagia, orthopnoea and rapid onset of neck swelling over 12 hours. She had returned one week prior from a year- long trip to Central America, Sri Lanka and Indonesia. Relevant past medical history included nephrotic syndrome due to minimal change disease, use of prednisolone 2.5 mg daily and previous treatment with rituximab. Childhood vaccinations were reported, but she had no booster travel vaccinations