Department of Internal Medicine, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa. Email:
Department of Histopathology, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban; National Health Laboratory Service, Johannesburg, South Africa.
Cardiovasc J Afr. 2023;34(2):117-120. doi: 10.5830/CVJA-2022-032. Epub 2022 Sep 5.
The re-emergence of diphtheria in South Africa in recent years warns of incomplete vaccination coverage. Recent outbreaks have been associated with a high mortality rate, due to late presentation, limited access to antitoxin and the occurrence of serious systemic complications. Death due to diphtheria is most commonly associated with diphtheritic myocarditis, which presents with heart failure, cardiogenic shock and conduction abnormalities. This case highlights the key clinical features and systemic complications, and examines the reasons for the return of diphtheria in our community.
近年来，南非白喉的再现警告我们疫苗接种覆盖率仍不完整。由于出现较晚、抗毒素获取受限以及严重全身并发症的发生，最近的疫情爆发与高死亡率相关。白喉导致的死亡最常与白喉性心肌炎相关，其特征为心力衰竭、心源性休克和传导异常。本病例强调了关键的临床特征和全身并发症，并探讨了白喉在我们社区重现的原因。
