Ludwigs angina is a lifethreatening disease, but can be treated using appropriate therapy. Largely due to the advent of antibiotics, the condition is uncommon in present day modern societies. This is trench mouth, a progressive painful infection with ulceration, swelling and sloughing off of dead tissue from the mouth and throat due to the spread of infection from the gums certain germs including fusiform bacteria and spirochetes are thought to be involved. An uncommon and potentially lethal neck infection vung d. Clinkard, danny enepekides, yousef peerbaye, vincent y. Ludwigs angina is a potentially lifethreatening, rapidly expanding, diffuse inflammation of the submandibular and sublingual spaces that occurs most often in. Early on the floor of the mouth is raised and there is difficulty swallowing saliva, which may run from the persons mouth. Carlson, ded, rn, y ellen pfadt, phdc, rn 20 nursing. We present a case which needed awake fibreoptic intubation due to severe trismus and a prolonged period intubated in the intensive care unit after incision and drainage of neck spaces and removal of his lower wisdom teeth.
Any difficulties with swallowing, swelling, crepitus, or signs of airway obstruction with recent dental disease should be highly suspicious for ludwig s angina. Ludwigs angina pictures, treatment, diagnosis, causes. Today, advanced diagnostic procedures and antibiotics had made ludwigs angina as a rare disease. Ludwig angina cellulitis refers to rapidly progressive inflammation of the floor of mouth, which is potentially lifethreatening due to the risk of rapid airway compromise. Various forms of angina have been described, notably ludwigs angina and vincent s angina. Most of the mortalities in the earlier years are associated with poor diagnosis and lack of antibiotics to treat the disease.
Carlo oller, emergency physician, talks about ludwig s angina. Ludwigs angina is a bilateral infection of the submandibular space that consists of two compartments in the floor of the mouth, the sublingual space and the submylohyoid also known as submaxillary space. As the condition worsens, the airway may be compromised with hardening of the spaces on both sides of the tongue. An unusual presentation of ludwigs angina complicated by cervical necrotizing fasciitis. Ludwigs angina is a form of severe diffuse cellulitis that presents an acute onset and spreads rapidly, bilaterally affecting the submandibular, sublingual and. Ludwig s angina is a rapidly progressive cellulitis of the submandibular space that can have a high mortality if not promptly recognized and treated. Ludwigs angina lat angina ludovici is a type of severe cellulitis involving the floor of the mouth. Ludwig angina refers to rapidly progressive inflammation cellulitis of the floor of mouth. Ludwig s angina lat angina ludovici is a type of severe cellulitis involving the floor of the mouth. Patient has pain in her right lower molar for approximately one week that is making it hard for her to chew 22 pain. Vincents angina is best treated with the antibiotic penicillin.