Diphtheria (Noun)
Meaning
Acute contagious infection caused by the bacterium Corynebacterium diphtheriae; marked by the formation of a false membrane in the throat and other air passages causing difficulty in breathing.
Classification
Nouns denoting natural processes.
Examples
- The patient was hospitalized after the diagnosis of diphtheria due to severe difficulty in breathing and swallowing.
- Diphtheria spread rapidly among the children in the village, and a vaccination drive was immediately organized.
- The doctor immediately started the kid on antibiotics after identifying the signs of diphtheria, including a thick, gray membrane covering the tonsils.
- According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, diphtheria can be prevented with proper vaccination against the disease.
- The complications of untreated diphtheria include respiratory distress and in severe cases can lead to death.