Lemierre syndrome: unusual cause and presentation.
Lemierre syndrome is a potentially fatal condition after an oropharyngeal infection. It is characterized by thrombophlebitis of head and neck veins with systemic dissemination of septic emboli. The most frequently isolated pathogen is Fusobacterium necrophorum. We report an unusual case of Lemierre syndrome in a 4-year-old child caused by Staphylococcus aureus, with multivisceral emboli to the brain, orbits, lungs, and heart valves. We also discuss its atypical clinical presentation, the crucial role of imaging in the early diagnosis, and the different treatment modalities of this life-threatening syndrome.
Aouad
Rony
R
Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Hotel Dieu de France Hospital, Saint Joseph University, Beirut, Lebanon. aouadrony@hotmail.com
Melkane
Antoine
A
Rassi
Simon
S
D020520:Brain Infarction / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D006351:Heart Valves; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009915:Orbit; D011655:Pulmonary Embolism / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000382:microbiology; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000302:isolation & purification; D013577:Syndrome; D013923:Thromboembolism / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed