Diphtheritic Polyneuropathy: A Rare Complication that Needs to be Acknowledged

Fandy Ong Jaya (Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Sumatera Utara, Medan, Indonesia)
Priscilla Love Lee (Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Sumatera Utara, Medan, Indonesia)
Kiking Ritarwan (Departement of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Sumatera Utara, Medan, Indonesia)

International Journal of Biomedical Science and Travel Medicine
12-18

Globally, diphtheria still poses a burden on public health, predominantly in developing countries. Poor vaccine coverage and boosters are the main factors in the diphtheria outbreak that should have been obliterated as the vaccine was invented a century ago. Health services are particularly burdened by diphtheria because it can lead to both short-term complications like acute airway obstruction and long-term complications like myocardial toxicity and diphtheritic polyneuropathy. Data about diphtheritic polyneuropathy is scarce, and physicians may not be aware of this condition. Herein we present the pathophysiology, clinical manifestation, diagnosis, and treatment of diphtheritic polyneuropathy.