A case of Lemierre's syndrome.

Abstract

Lemierre's syndrome is a rare but potentially life-threatening entity that follows an oropharyngeal infection. The syndrome is characterized by an antecedent acute oropharyngeal infection, with secondary suppurative thrombophlebitis of the internal jugular vein and septic emboli. In the pre-antibiotic era, it had a 90% mortality rate. Now, with the advent of antibiotics, the prognosis is favorable, but delays in diagnosis may result in increased morbidity and mortality. Its incidence appears to be increasing. We present a case of Lemierre's syndrome, most notable for the patient's essentially benign physical examination and lack of clinical improvement with penicillin.

• Authors: Marek Ma, Edward C Jauch, Marleen Cousins Johnson
• Journal: European journal of emergency medicine : official journal of the European Society for Emergency Medicine (Eur J Emerg Med) Vol. 10 Issue 2 Pg. 139-42 (Jun 2003) ISSN: 0969-9546 [Print] England
• PMID: 12789073 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Anti-Bacterial Agents
• Metronidazole
• Clindamycin

Topics

• Adolescent
• Anti-Bacterial Agents (therapeutic use)
• Clindamycin (therapeutic use)
• Drug Therapy, Combination (therapeutic use)
• Female
• Fusobacterium Infections (diagnosis, drug therapy)
• Fusobacterium necrophorum
• Humans
• Jugular Veins (microbiology)
• Metronidazole (therapeutic use)
• Pharyngitis (complications)
• Syndrome
• Thrombophlebitis (microbiology)