Lemierre syndrome: A case report

Abstract

Lemierre syndrome is a rare complication of oropharyngeal infection which progresses with secondary septic thrombophlebitis and embolic infections. A 20 years-old woman started with odynophagia and fever, which progressed rapidly to a peritonsillar abscess with thrombosis of the ipsilateral internal jugular vein, septic pulmonary emboli and me­ningitis. She was managed with abscess drainage puncture, broad-spectrum antibiotic therapy and anticoagulant responding favorably, and was discharged in good condition after 35 days of hospitalization. Since the use of antimicrobial therapy, cases like these are rare, sometimes forgotten, but given its severity should be considered in pharyngeal torpid illness or at the onset of neurological signs or sepsis.