[8 cases of diphtheria observed in Guadeloupe from 1979 to 1984]

From 1979 to 1984, 8 cases of diphtheria were diagnosed in Basse-Terre, in children aged 11 months to 6 years. All of them were badly or not vaccinated at all. They showed the common clinical features; two patients had only pharyngitis. Corynebacterium diphtheriae was isolated from the throat in 6 patients. All children were successfully treated by early administration of antitoxin and antibiotics.