A Diphtheria Epidemic in Elazığ, Eastern Anatolia
Abstract
During the one-month period of December 1987, a localized outbreak of diphtheria occurred in Elazlž. Five children who attended the same primary school were affected. None of the children had received complete immunization. Toxinogenic Corynebacterium diphtheria intermedius strains were identified. The first patient with laryngotracheal obstruction was subjected to emergency tracheostomy. He also had cardiac and neurological complications. The other 4 patients were accepted as mild and moderate clinical cases and didn't develop any diphtheritic complications. The cases were isolated in hospital, where diphtheria antitoxin and penicillin were administered.
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References
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