Clinical and ECG parallels in local forms of oropharyngeal diphtheria in adults

Clinical and ECG findings in 186 patients with local diphtheria of the oropharynx showed that cardiac pathology in local diphtheria patients is weak and short-term. In late diagnosis and missed serotherapy myocardial damage may be more serious and eventuate to myocarditis. Premorbid background (previous infections, chronic alcohol intoxication) presents as an additional risk of myocarditis in local diphtheria.