Ludwig’s angina

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Oropharynx

Submandibular space infection; Sublingual space infection

• 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!)

• earache
• drooling

An examination of the neck and head shows redness and swelling of the upper neck, under the chin. The swelling may extend to the floor of the mouth. The tongue may be swollen or displaced upward and backward because of the 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 species or anaerobic species that usually live in the mouth.

Review Date: 06/15/2005
Reviewed By: Monica Gandhi, MD, MPH, Assistant Professor, Division of Infectious Diseases, UCSF, San Francisco, CA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.