Cutaneous and pharyngeal diphtheria imported from the Indian subcontinent

We report the case of a 32-year-old woman who presented upon returning from India with cutaneous ulcers on the feet and pharyngitis. Microbiological testing showed the causative organism to be a toxigenic strain of Corynebacterium diphtheriae. She was treated successfully with penicillin and diphtheria antitoxin. This case emphasises the importance of maintaining a high index of suspicion for such rare but significant infectious diseases.