Diphtheritic stomatitis: Difference between revisions

Latest revision as of 02:50, 9 March 2025

A condition characterized by inflammation of the mouth due to diphtheria infection

Diphtheritic stomatitis is an inflammatory condition of the mouth caused by the Corynebacterium diphtheriae bacterium, which is also responsible for the systemic disease known as diphtheria. This condition is characterized by the formation of a pseudomembrane in the oral cavity, leading to symptoms such as pain, swelling, and difficulty swallowing.

Pathophysiology[edit]

Diphtheritic stomatitis occurs when the Corynebacterium diphtheriae bacterium infects the mucous membranes of the mouth. The bacterium produces a potent exotoxin that causes local tissue destruction and inflammation. The hallmark of the infection is the formation of a thick, grayish pseudomembrane composed of dead cells, fibrin, and bacteria. This pseudomembrane can adhere tightly to the underlying tissues, making it difficult to remove without causing bleeding.

Clinical presentation[edit]

Patients with diphtheritic stomatitis typically present with:

Sore throat and pain in the mouth
Swelling of the oral mucosa
Difficulty swallowing (dysphagia)
Fever and malaise
Presence of a grayish pseudomembrane in the mouth

Diagnosis[edit]

The diagnosis of diphtheritic stomatitis is primarily clinical, based on the characteristic appearance of the pseudomembrane in the oral cavity. Confirmation can be obtained by isolating Corynebacterium diphtheriae from throat swabs or cultures. In some cases, a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test may be used to detect the presence of the diphtheria toxin gene.

Treatment[edit]

The treatment of diphtheritic stomatitis involves:

Administration of diphtheria antitoxin to neutralize the toxin
Antibiotic therapy, typically with penicillin or erythromycin, to eradicate the bacterial infection
Supportive care, including pain management and hydration

Prevention[edit]

Vaccination is the most effective way to prevent diphtheritic stomatitis and diphtheria. The diphtheria vaccine is usually given in combination with tetanus and pertussis vaccines (DTaP) during childhood.

Complications[edit]

If left untreated, diphtheritic stomatitis can lead to serious complications, including:

Airway obstruction due to the pseudomembrane
Systemic spread of the toxin, leading to myocarditis and neuropathy

Related pages[edit]

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-[[File:Diphtheritic stomatitis.jpg|thumb]] {{Infobox medical condition
+{{Short description|A condition characterized by inflammation of the mouth due to diphtheria infection}}
-| name = Diphtheritic stomatitis
+'''Diphtheritic stomatitis''' is an inflammatory condition of the mouth caused by the [[Corynebacterium diphtheriae]] bacterium, which is also responsible for the systemic disease known as [[diphtheria]]. This condition is characterized by the formation of a pseudomembrane in the oral cavity, leading to symptoms such as pain, swelling, and difficulty swallowing.
-| image =
-| caption =
-| field = [[Infectious disease]]
-| symptoms = Sore throat, fever, pseudomembrane formation in the mouth
-| complications = Breathing difficulties, myocarditis, neuropathy
-| onset =
-| duration =
-| causes = [[Corynebacterium diphtheriae]]
-| risks = Lack of vaccination, close contact with infected individuals
-| diagnosis = Clinical examination, culture of the bacteria
-| treatment = [[Antibiotics]], [[Diphtheria antitoxin]]
-| prevention = [[Diphtheria vaccine]]
-}}
-'''Diphtheritic stomatitis''' is an infectious condition characterized by the inflammation of the mucous membranes in the mouth due to infection with the bacterium ''[[Corynebacterium diphtheriae]]''. This condition is a manifestation of [[diphtheria]], a serious bacterial infection that primarily affects the mucous membranes of the respiratory tract but can also involve the skin and other mucosal surfaces.
 ==Pathophysiology==
-Diphtheritic stomatitis occurs when ''Corynebacterium diphtheriae'' infects the oral mucosa. The bacterium produces a potent exotoxin that inhibits protein synthesis in host cells, leading to cell death. This results in the formation of a thick, gray pseudomembrane on the mucosal surfaces, which is a hallmark of diphtheritic infections. The pseudomembrane can cause significant obstruction and discomfort in the oral cavity.
+Diphtheritic stomatitis occurs when the [[Corynebacterium diphtheriae]] bacterium infects the mucous membranes of the mouth. The bacterium produces a potent exotoxin that causes local tissue destruction and inflammation. The hallmark of the infection is the formation of a thick, grayish pseudomembrane composed of dead cells, fibrin, and bacteria. This pseudomembrane can adhere tightly to the underlying tissues, making it difficult to remove without causing bleeding.
-==Clinical Presentation==
+==Clinical presentation==
 Patients with diphtheritic stomatitis typically present with:
-* Sore throat
+* Sore throat and pain in the mouth
-* Fever
+* Swelling of the oral mucosa
-* Malaise
+* Difficulty swallowing (dysphagia)
-* Difficulty swallowing
+* Fever and malaise
-* The presence of a thick, gray pseudomembrane in the mouth, which may bleed when scraped
+* Presence of a grayish pseudomembrane in the mouth
-In severe cases, the toxin can spread systemically, leading to complications such as myocarditis, neuropathy, and airway obstruction.
 ==Diagnosis==
-The diagnosis of diphtheritic stomatitis is primarily clinical, based on the characteristic appearance of the pseudomembrane. Confirmation is achieved by isolating ''Corynebacterium diphtheriae'' from throat swabs or cultures. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests can also be used to detect the presence of the diphtheria toxin gene.
+The diagnosis of diphtheritic stomatitis is primarily clinical, based on the characteristic appearance of the pseudomembrane in the oral cavity. Confirmation can be obtained by isolating [[Corynebacterium diphtheriae]] from throat swabs or cultures. In some cases, a [[polymerase chain reaction]] (PCR) test may be used to detect the presence of the diphtheria toxin gene.
 ==Treatment==
-The mainstay of treatment for diphtheritic stomatitis includes:
+The treatment of diphtheritic stomatitis involves:
-* Administration of [[diphtheria antitoxin]] to neutralize the circulating toxin.
+* Administration of diphtheria antitoxin to neutralize the toxin
-* Antibiotic therapy, typically with [[penicillin]] or [[erythromycin]], to eradicate the bacterial infection.
+* Antibiotic therapy, typically with [[penicillin]] or [[erythromycin]], to eradicate the bacterial infection
-* Supportive care, including maintaining airway patency and hydration.
+* Supportive care, including pain management and hydration
 ==Prevention==
-Prevention of diphtheritic stomatitis is primarily through vaccination. The [[diphtheria vaccine]], often given in combination with [[tetanus]] and [[pertussis]] vaccines (DTaP or Tdap), is highly effective in preventing diphtheria infections.
+[[Vaccination]] is the most effective way to prevent diphtheritic stomatitis and diphtheria. The [[diphtheria vaccine]] is usually given in combination with [[tetanus]] and [[pertussis]] vaccines (DTaP) during childhood.
-==Epidemiology==
+==Complications==
-Diphtheritic stomatitis is rare in countries with high vaccination coverage. However, it remains a concern in areas where vaccination rates are low or where outbreaks of diphtheria occur.
+If left untreated, diphtheritic stomatitis can lead to serious complications, including:
+* Airway obstruction due to the pseudomembrane
+* Systemic spread of the toxin, leading to [[myocarditis]] and [[neuropathy]]
-==Also see==
+==Related pages==
 * [[Diphtheria]]
 * [[Corynebacterium diphtheriae]]
-* [[Pseudomembranous inflammation]]
 * [[Vaccination]]
+* [[Infectious diseases]]
-{{Infectious diseases}}
 [[Category:Infectious diseases]]
-[[Category:Bacterial diseases]]
+[[Category:Oral pathology]]
-[[Category:Oral and maxillofacial pathology]]