Ludwig's angina

Alternative names:

cellulitis, neck; neck abscess; neck infection; sublingual infection; submandibular space infection

Symptoms:

• neck pain
• neck swelling
• redness of the neck
• fever
• weakness, fatigue, excessive tiredness
• confusion or other mental changes
• difficulty breathing (This symptom indicates an emergency situation!)

Additional symptoms that may be associated with this disease:

• earache
• drooling

Signs and tests:

Inspection of the neck and head shows redness and swelling of the upper neck under the chin, which may extend to the floor of the mouth. The tongue may be swollen or displaced upward and backward because of the spread of inflammation.

A CT scan of the neck may be recommended to determine the extent of inflammation. Culture of fluid from the tissues may show bacteria, usually streptococcus or staphylococcus bacteria. Pus formation is unusual.