Risk factors for death include a long interval between onset of local disease and antitoxin administration; bull-neck diphtheria; myocarditis with ventricular tachycardia; atrial fibrillation; complete heart block; an age of >60 years or <6 months; alcoholism; extensive pseudomembrane elongation; and laryngeal, tracheal, or bronchial involvement.
Section 7. Infectious Diseases