All are complication of diphtheria, Except:

Ans. is 'd' Hepatic failure (Ref.: Harrison, 17/e p 892 & 16/e, p 834 (15/e, p 911); Nelson, 16/e, p 818-819).It is confirmed that hepatic failure does not occur in diphtheria, but there is confusion regarding cerebellar ataxia. Cerebellar ataxia is not mentioned anywhere.CNS complications of diphtheria infection are encephalitis* and cerebral infarction*.I am not sure if ataxia can occur due to this. Moreover diphtheria infection is not mentioned in the list of infections causing ataxia.Other complications of diphtheria infection:Myocarditis* and cardiomyopathy*Toxic neuropathy which includesBulbar neuritis can cause palatal and pharyngeal paralysis*Cranial neuropathy leads to oculomotor and ciliary paralysis * Peripheral neuropathy - It is symmetrical* causes proximal* muscle weakness and spreads distally.PneumoniaPulmonary embolismBacteremia or endocarditisRenal failure