The following are the most important diseases or complications that may be contributed to by diphtheria:
Cardiovascular system (I00-I99).
- Endocarditis (endocarditis of the heart).
- Pulmonary embolism – occlusion of pulmonary vessels by a detached thrombus (blood clot).
- Myocarditis (inflammation of the heart muscle) with conduction disturbances up to AV block 3rd degree and heart failure.
Psyche – Nervous System (F00-F99; G00-G99).
- Encephalitis (inflammation of the brain).
- Cerebral infarction
- Peripheral neuropathies (disease of the external nerves) – v. a. motor cranial nerves, e. g. typically affection of the glossopharyngeal nerve with palatine nerve palsy
Symptoms and abnormal clinical and laboratory findings not elsewhere classified (R00-R99).
- Dyspnea (shortness of breath)
- Uremia (occurrence of urinary substances in the blood above normal values).
Genitourinary system (kidneys, urinary tract – reproductive organs) (N00-N99).