title: Ludwig's angina in the pediatric population.
abstract: As many as 1 in 3 of cases of Ludwig's angina occur in children and adolescents, and pediatricians are therefore ideally situated to detect these individuals at an early stage of their potentially life-threatening disease. The early identification and referral of children afflicted with Ludwig's angina to tertiary care centers allows for the rapid initiation of medical therapy and the consultation of those emergency services critical to providing such patients with optimal diagnostic and therapeutic interventions. This review provides an overview of the anatomical and pathophysiological considerations in Ludwig's angina and describes practical management principles to assist pediatricians in the diagnosis and treatment of this disease. Included in this review is an evidence-based algorithm for airway management.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otology and Laryngology, Harvard Medical School; Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Boston, Massachussetts, USA. harrison_lin@meei.harvard.edu
authors.forename: Harrison W
authors.initials: HW
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Allison
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: O'Neill
authors.forename: Michael J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Cunningham
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D004638:Emergency Treatment; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D008158:Ludwig's Angina / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D005938:Glucocorticoids