[Neural complications after diphtheria vaccination and inoculations with diphtheria toxoid-mixed vaccines. Observations on their etiopathogenesis].

In five children neural complications occurred following diphtheria immunization. In two cases, damage was related to the injection (vaccination-induced poliomyelitis), in three cases it could be traced back to a hyperergic reaction to diphtheria toxoid on the cerebral vessels. The latter complication is typical of individuals being immunized against diphtheria. Such complications are extremely rare; by no means can they question the value of active immunization against diphtheria.