| diphtheria | <infectious disease> An acute infectious disease caused by toxigenic strains of Corynebacterium diphtheriae, acquired by contact with an infected person or a carrier of the disease, which is usually confined to the upper respiratory tract. It is characterised by the formation of a tough membrane (false membrane or pseudomembrane) attached firmly to the underlying tissue that will bleed if forcibly removed. In the most serious infections the membrane begins in the tonsillar (faucial) area on one tonsil and may spread to involve the other tonsil, uvula, soft palate and pharyngeal wall, from where it may extend to the larynx, trachea and bronchial tree and may cause bronchial obstruction and death by hypoxia. Diphtheria also occurs in a cutaneous form and may rarely involve the eyes, middle ear, buccal mucosa, genitalia and umbilical stump, usually secondarily. Systemic effects, chiefly myocarditis and peripheral neuritis, are caused by the exotoxin produced by C. Diphtheriae. Synonym: Bretonneau's angina. Origin: Gr. Diphthera = leather (18 Nov 1997) |
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| diphtheria antitoxin | An equine antitoxin against the toxin of corynebacterium diphtheriae, used for the treatment of diphtheria. It is to be differentiated from diphtheria toxoid which is used for the prevention of diphtheria. (12 Dec 1998) |
| diphtheria antitoxin unit | The antitoxin activity of 0.0628 mg standard diphtheria antitoxin. (05 Mar 2000) |
| diphtheria toxin | <protein> An ab exotoxin (62 kD) coded by _ corynephage of virulent Corynebacterium diphtheriae strains (that can produce a repressor of toxin production). The B subunit binds to receptors on the surface of the target cell and facilitates the entry of the enzymically active A subunit (21 kD) that ADP ribosylates elongation factor 2, thereby halting mRNA translation. (18 Nov 1997) |
| diphtheria toxoid | The formaldehyde-inactivated toxin of corynebacterium diphtheriae. It is generally used in mixtures with tetanus toxoid and pertussis vaccine (dtp) or with tetanus toxoid alone (dt for paediatric use and td, which contains 5- to 10-fold less diphtheria toxoid, for other use). Diphtheria toxoid is used for the prevention of diphtheria; diphtheria antitoxin is for treatment. (12 Dec 1998) |
| false diphtheria | 1. One of a group of local infections suggesting diphtheria, but caused by microorganisms other than Corynebacterium diphtheriae. Synonym: Epstein's disease, false diphtheria, pseudodiphtheria. 2. Any microorganism resembling Corynebacterium diphtheriae. Origin: diphtheria + G. Eidos, resemblance (05 Mar 2000) |
| faucial diphtheria | Severe pharyngitis affecting the fauces, the usual site affected by infection with Corynebacterium diphtheriae. (05 Mar 2000) |
| laryngeal diphtheria | Diphtheria affecting the larynx, usually with asphyxiation due to obstruction of the airway by the membrane that forms, with fatal outcome. Synonym: laryngotracheal diphtheria. (05 Mar 2000) |
| laryngotracheal diphtheria | Diphtheria affecting the larynx, usually with asphyxiation due to obstruction of the airway by the membrane that forms, with fatal outcome. Synonym: laryngotracheal diphtheria. (05 Mar 2000) |
| fowl diphtheria | An infection by the fowlpox virus in which tracheal involvement is especially severe. See: fowlpox. Synonym: fowl diphtheria. (05 Mar 2000) |
| acoustic tetanus | Experimental tetanus induced by a faradic current, the speed of which is estimated by the pitch of the vibrations. (05 Mar 2000) |
| anodal closure tetanus | An obsolete term for a tetanic muscular contraction occurring during the time the circuit is closed, the current then running, while the positive pole is applied. (05 Mar 2000) |
| anodal duration tetanus | An obsolete term for the period of muscular contraction occurring at the anode when the electric circuit is closed. (05 Mar 2000) |
| anodal opening tetanus | An obsolete term for a tonic contraction in a muscle, to which the anode is applied, when the circuit is opened. (05 Mar 2000) |
| apyretic tetanus | 1. Hyperexcitability of nerves and muscles due to decrease in concentration of extracellular ionised calcium, which may be associated with such conditions as parathyroid hypofunction, vitamin D deficiency and alkalosis or result from ingestion of alkaline salts, it is characterised by carpopedal spasm, muscular twitching and cramps, laryngospasm with inspiratory stridor, hyperreflexia and choreiform movements. 2. Tetanus. (18 Nov 1997) |