A 13-year-old girl with incomplete childhood immunization (she had received only the first three doses of diphtheria–pertussis–tetanus vaccine) presented in the infectious department in June (which is a rainy season in India). She had had a fever. Severe throat infection, bull neck (attached image), hoarse voice, and respiratory distress for 8 days (before presentation) were noted. She had tachycardia with normal BP. Bilateral yellowish white pharyngeal patches with congestion (attached image) were observed.
Bleeding was noted during collection of a throat swab specimen for culture. What could be the most likely diagnosis in this case? What do you expect from throat culture results? *This case is from Docplexus editorial team for educative purpose only. Source: NEJM
