Glossal abscess.
A 21-year-old man presented to our emergency department with a two-day complaint of painful swelling and protrusion of the tongue, odynophagia, dysphagia, and difficulty with speech. A nonfluctuant area of tongue swelling was identified; needle aspiration of this site produced 5 mL of pus, with considerable amelioration of symptoms. Culture of the aspirate subsequently grew Hemophilus parainfluenzae, the first such reported case of this pathogen in a glossal abscess. Glossal abscess is a rare clinical entity that may result in airway compromise and disseminated infection to other systems. The presence of a glossal abscess should be considered in all cases of tongue swelling.
Roberge
R J
RJ
Department of Emergency Medicine, Moses H. Cone Memorial Hospital, Greensboro, NC 27420.
Fowler
R M
RM
Mayer
N M
NM
D000038:Abscess / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000328:Adult; D002443:Ceftriaxone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002506:Cephalexin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004630:Emergencies; D006192:Haemophilus Infections / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D014060:Tongue Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology*
D002443:Ceftriaxone; D002506:Cephalexin