Is Ludwigs angina life threatening?

Ludwig’s angina is life-threatening cellulitis of the soft tissue involving the floor of the mouth and neck. It involves three compartments of the floor of the mouth, the sublingual, submental, and submandibular. The infection is rapidly progressive, leading to potential airway obstruction.

Why is it called Ludwig’s angina?

With the advent of antibiotics in 1940s, improved oral and dental hygiene, and more aggressive surgical approaches for treatment, the risk of death due to Ludwig’s angina has significantly reduced. It is named after a German physician, Wilhelm Frederick von Ludwig, who first described this condition in 1836.

What are the complications of Ludwig’s angina?

Possible complications of Ludwig’s angina are airway obstruction, carotid arterial rupture or sheath abscess, thrombophlebitis of the internal jugular vein, mediastinits, empyema, necrotizing fasciitis, pericardial effusion, osteomyelitis, subphrenic abscess, aspiration pneumonia, and pleural effusion [2-4].

What spaces are involved in Ludwig’s angina?

Ludwig angina is a bilateral infection of the submandibular space that consists of two compartments in the floor of the mouth, the sublingual space and the submylohyoid (also known as submaxillary) space (figure 1). It was first described by the German physician, Wilhelm Frederick von Ludwig in 1836.

Is Ludwig’s angina painful?

Ludwig’s angina is a rare infection of the soft tissues of the mouth that can become serious. It causes severe pain, tenderness, and swelling underneath the tongue and in other areas (such as the neck and jaw).

What is the most common cause of Ludwig’s angina?

Streptococcal and staphylococcal bacteria are the most common types of bacteria that lead to Ludwig’s angina, especially Streptococcus viridans, Staphylococcus epidermis, and Staphylococcus aureus.

How do you drain Ludwig’s angina?

Surgical drainage and debridement are reserved for the severe cases of Ludwig’s angina or in cases in which there is no improvement with antibiotics and steroids. Surgical intervention involves decompressing the submental, submandibular, and sublingual spaces by external incision and drainage [13].

Does Ludwig’s angina go away?

It results from bacteria that are present due to other issues, such as a tooth abscess or a mouth injury. With antibiotics, people usually recover from Ludwig’s angina. However, if a person does not receive treatment promptly or if the infection is severe, it can lead to potentially fatal complications, such as sepsis.

How do you treat Ludwigs angina?

Antibiotics are the primary treatment for Ludwig’s angina. At first, the person will likely receive these drugs intravenously — through an IV. This will usually continue until the symptoms go away. The person may then need to take oral antibiotics for some time.

Is Ludwigs angina painful?

Is Ludwig angina rare?

Ludwig’s angina is a rare but serious bacterial skin infection that affects your mouth, neck, and jaw. Considered a type of cellulitis, Ludwig’s angina spreads rapidly to infect the soft tissues underneath your tongue. This serious condition is more common in adults than children.