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- potentially life-threatening
- rapidly expanding, diffuse inflammation of the submandibular and
sublingual spaces
- occurs most often in young adults with dental infections.
- initially described in 1836 by German physician Wilhelm Frederick von
Ludwig
- five patients with marked swelling of the neck that progressed rapidly
to involve the tissues covering the muscles between the larynx and the
floor of the mouth
- His first patient was Queen Catherine of Württemberg.
- Angina is from anchone, the Greek word for strangulation, and was taken to
connote throat pain and infection. At that time, the condition was almost
always fatal.
Causative bacteria
- streptococci,
- staphylococci,
- gram-negative and
- anaerobic organisms.
Symptoms
- severe neck pain and swelling
- fever
- malaise
- dysphagia
Examination
- may reveal carious molar teeth,
- neck rigidity
- drooling.
- Airway compromise
- stridor,
- dyspnea,
- decreased air movement
- cyanosis
Treatment
- protection of the airway
- parenteral antibiotics
- e.g., high-dose penicillin G or clindamycin
- with or without metronidazole
- immediate surgical consultation and possible operative drainage.
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