Respiratory Diphtheria in a 16-Year-Old Who Developed Multiple Life-Threatening Complications.

Diphtheria is a contagious disease with high mortality. Although the global prevalence has been decreasing, the immigration of certain populations with suboptimal vaccination coverage has contributed to its resurgence in developed countries. We report a 16-year-old Afghan male with acute respiratory distress and life-threatening complications, including fulminant myocarditis with cardiac arrhythmias and neurologic complications.