Low urgency
-Very severe
A very serious infection of the floor of the mouth caused by bacteria present in the mouth and pharynx (oropharynx).
In most cases, the origin of the infection is a tooth infection.
The most common symptoms include fever, pain when swallowing, drooling, swelling of the neck, cervical pain, redness of the neck and respiratory distress.
The diagnosis of suspicion is clinical, by interrogation and physical examination; it is confirmed by computed tomography.
Intravenous antibiotic treatment should be started early. It is very important to control the airways, which could be occluded by inflammation.
It usually requires admission to an Intensive Care Unit for treatment and control of complications.
- Anthony W Chow. Submandibular space infections (Ludwig's angina). UpToDate. Julio 2015
- Ronit Cohen-Poradosu. Infecciones por microorganismos anaerobios mixtos. Harrison. Principios de Medicina Interna, 19e. Capítulo 201
- Boscolo-Rizzo P. Submandibular space infection: a potentially lethal infection. Int J Infect Dis 2009; 13:327.
- Brook I. Microbiology and principles of antimicrobial therapy for head and neck infections. Infect Dis Clin North Am 2007; 21:355.
- Patel M, Chettiar TP, Wadee AA. Isolation of Staphylococcus aureus and black-pigmented bacteroides indicate a high risk for the development of Ludwig's angina. Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol Oral Radiol Endod 2009; 108:667.
Dr. Patricia Sánchez
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