diphtheria

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diphtheria (dif-theer-iă) n. an acute highly contagious infection, caused by the bacterium Corynebacterium diphtheriae, that generally affects the throat but occasionally affects other mucous membranes and the skin. Early symptoms are a sore throat, weakness, and mild fever; later, a soft grey membrane forms across the throat, constricting the air passages and causing difficulty in breathing and swallowing. Bacteria multiply at the site of infection and release a toxin into the bloodstream, which damages heart and nerves. An effective immunization programme has now made diphtheria rare in most Western countries (see also Schick test).

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