Lemierre’s Syndrome: A Neglected Disease with Classical Features

We report the case of a previously healthy, immunocompetent 23-year-old male who presented to the Emergency Department with general malaise, difficulty in breathing, fever, and chest pain. He reported a two-week history of progressively worsening sore throat that he presumed to be a viral infection...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Andreas V. Hadjinicolaou, Yiannis Philippou
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2015-01-01
Series:Case Reports in Medicine
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2015/846715
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1850104550407536640
author Andreas V. Hadjinicolaou
Yiannis Philippou
author_facet Andreas V. Hadjinicolaou
Yiannis Philippou
author_sort Andreas V. Hadjinicolaou
collection DOAJ
description We report the case of a previously healthy, immunocompetent 23-year-old male who presented to the Emergency Department with general malaise, difficulty in breathing, fever, and chest pain. He reported a two-week history of progressively worsening sore throat that he presumed to be a viral infection and thus initially neglected. However, when his condition deteriorated, he was admitted to hospital acutely unwell and in respiratory distress. He quickly developed septic shock requiring intensive care admission for inotropic support. Ultrasound and CT imaging revealed internal jugular vein thrombosis with associated septic emboli reaching the lungs to form bilateral cavitations and consequently pleural effusions. Blood cultures were positive for Fusobacterium necrophorum. Based on these findings, a diagnosis of Lemierre’s syndrome was made. The patient was treated with appropriate antibiotics and anticoagulation and gradually recovered. He was discharged 20 days after admission with advice to complete a six-week course of antibiotics.
format Article
id doaj-art-46f9dcfba4d246bfb4f4bcd4dfbb0bc7
institution DOAJ
issn 1687-9627
1687-9635
language English
publishDate 2015-01-01
publisher Wiley
record_format Article
series Case Reports in Medicine
spelling doaj-art-46f9dcfba4d246bfb4f4bcd4dfbb0bc72025-08-20T02:39:19ZengWileyCase Reports in Medicine1687-96271687-96352015-01-01201510.1155/2015/846715846715Lemierre’s Syndrome: A Neglected Disease with Classical FeaturesAndreas V. Hadjinicolaou0Yiannis Philippou1Radcliffe Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, John Radcliffe Hospital, Headington, Oxford OX3 9DU, UKDepartment of Surgery, Basildon & Thurrock University Hospital, Nethermayne, Essex SS16 5NL, UKWe report the case of a previously healthy, immunocompetent 23-year-old male who presented to the Emergency Department with general malaise, difficulty in breathing, fever, and chest pain. He reported a two-week history of progressively worsening sore throat that he presumed to be a viral infection and thus initially neglected. However, when his condition deteriorated, he was admitted to hospital acutely unwell and in respiratory distress. He quickly developed septic shock requiring intensive care admission for inotropic support. Ultrasound and CT imaging revealed internal jugular vein thrombosis with associated septic emboli reaching the lungs to form bilateral cavitations and consequently pleural effusions. Blood cultures were positive for Fusobacterium necrophorum. Based on these findings, a diagnosis of Lemierre’s syndrome was made. The patient was treated with appropriate antibiotics and anticoagulation and gradually recovered. He was discharged 20 days after admission with advice to complete a six-week course of antibiotics.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2015/846715
spellingShingle Andreas V. Hadjinicolaou
Yiannis Philippou
Lemierre’s Syndrome: A Neglected Disease with Classical Features
Case Reports in Medicine
title Lemierre’s Syndrome: A Neglected Disease with Classical Features
title_full Lemierre’s Syndrome: A Neglected Disease with Classical Features
title_fullStr Lemierre’s Syndrome: A Neglected Disease with Classical Features
title_full_unstemmed Lemierre’s Syndrome: A Neglected Disease with Classical Features
title_short Lemierre’s Syndrome: A Neglected Disease with Classical Features
title_sort lemierre s syndrome a neglected disease with classical features
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2015/846715
work_keys_str_mv AT andreasvhadjinicolaou lemierressyndromeaneglecteddiseasewithclassicalfeatures
AT yiannisphilippou lemierressyndromeaneglecteddiseasewithclassicalfeatures