An interesting case of diphtheritic neuropathy

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Suresh, Natarajan | Rao, Nagaraja | Thiruvengadam, Vasanthi | Viswanathan, Venkataraman

Affiliations: Kanchi Kamakoti CHILDS Trust Hospital & The CHILDS Trust Medical Research Foundation, Nungambakkam, Chennai, India

Note: [] Correspondence: Dr. Natarajan Suresh, Senior Registrar, 12-a Nageswara Road, Nungambakkam, Chennai-34, India. Tel.: +91 9444288174; E-mail: drsuresh30@rediffmail.com

Abstract: Diphtheritic neuropathy seldom has been observed nowadays in India beyond 1980 probably due to effective immunization. We report an 11-year-old adolescent girl, not adequately immunized who had pharyngitis with bull neck and subsequently presented with palatal weakness, accommodation paralysis, lower cranial nerve palsy and peripheral neuropathy, features characteristic of diphtheritic neuropathy. She was managed with supportive treatment. The specific treatment (diphtheria antitoxin) was not useful in our child as the child presented 4 wk after diphtheria infection. This case report will increase the awareness of sporadic occurrence of a rare disease among fellow pediatricians.

Keywords: Diphtheria, neuropathy, immunization

DOI: 10.3233/JPN-2012-0546

Journal: Journal of Pediatric Neurology, vol. 10, no. 2, pp. 143-145, 2012