Question

If a greyish pseudomembrane is formed over the tonsils, a person is suffering from which infection?

Answer 1

Hint: Patients have unexplained pharyngitis, low-grade fever, swollen lymph nodes in the throat, hoarseness, palate paralysis, or stridorrhea (high-pitched breathing sound).

Complete answer:
An upper respiratory infection caused by a bacterial microorganism known as Corynebacterium diphtheriae is a classic case of diphtheria. It may be responsible for other species of Corynebacterium, but this is rare. A toxin is produced by some strains of this bacterium, and it is this toxin that causes the most serious diphtheria complications. As they are infected by a certain form of virus called a phage, the bacteria create a toxin. It creates a grey pseudomembrane or a coating that looks like a membrane, over the lining of the nose and throat, around the region of the tonsils. There may be an average incubation period of 5 days before early signs and symptoms occur after a person is first infected with the bacteria. Early features of the infection, before the pseudomembrane emerges, include low fever, malaise, and fatigue, swollen neck glands, swelling of soft tissue in the neck, giving a 'bull neck' appearance, nasal discharge, rapid heart rate. Within 12 to 24 hours, after the initial signs have emerged, if the bacteria are toxic, a pseudomembrane will begin to form, leading to a sore throat, trouble swallowing, a possible obstruction that causes breathing problems. If the membrane extends to the larynx, hoarseness and a barking cough are more likely, as is the risk of complete obstruction of the airway. This pseudomembrane can even be greenish or bluish, and even black, if it has been bleeding.
So, the correct answer is option 'b', i.e., (Diphtheria).

Note: When given early, the treatment for diphtheria is most successful, so a rapid diagnosis is crucial. Once it has bonded with the tissues and caused the damage, the antitoxin used cannot fight the diphtheria toxin. There are two components of treatment aimed at countering the bacterial effects: To neutralize the toxin produced by the bacteria, an antitoxin, also known as anti-diphtheritic serum. Erythromycin or penicillin-antibiotics to kill and avoid the bacteria from spreading.