[Diphtheria of the oral mucosa].

High incidence of diphtheria became a pressing problem in recent years. The age structure of patients has changed. A specific feature of diphtheria in adults is a high share of toxic forms and a higher incidence of grave combined forms and rare localizations of the disease focus. The oral cavity proper is one of rare localizations of this infection. The authors examined 12 patients in whom the process was localized in various parts of the buccal mucosa: on the upper and lower lips, on the hard and soft palate, on the cheeks and tongue. Morphologic disturbances presenting as necrosis and inflammatory infiltration were detected in sites involved in the diphtheritic process. Changes whose manifestation was related to the diseases severity were found in zones adjacent to the foci. The authors come to a conclusion on a higher incidence of heretofore rare localizations of diphtheria than previously, this making difficult the diagnosis and treatment of the disease.