A patient with Lemierre syndrome

Eur J Pediatr. 2010 Apr;169(4):491-3. doi: 10.1007/s00431-009-1134-6.

Abstract

Lemierre syndrome, also known as postanginal sepsis, is a severe complication of an acute oropharyngeal infection that results in septic thrombophlebitis of the ipsilateral internal jugular vein with subsequent septicemia, often complicated by metastatic infections (Syed et al., Laryngoscope 117:1605-1610, 2007). We present the case of a previously healthy 12-year-old boy with Lemierre syndrome, caused by streptococci (Abiotrophia defectiva), complicating a subcutaneous neck abscess. The patient had metastatic sequelae, was treated with antibiotics (clindamycin and vancomycin) and low molecular weight heparin, and had an uneventful outcome.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / therapeutic use
  • Child
  • Clindamycin / therapeutic use
  • Humans
  • Jugular Veins / pathology
  • Male
  • Pharyngitis / complications
  • Pharyngitis / diagnosis*
  • Pharyngitis / drug therapy
  • Sepsis / complications
  • Sepsis / drug therapy
  • Syndrome
  • Thrombophlebitis / complications
  • Thrombophlebitis / pathology
  • Vancomycin / therapeutic use

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Clindamycin
  • Vancomycin