Lemierre's disease: postanginal bacteremia and pulmonary involvement caused by Fusobacterium necrophorum

Rev Infect Dis. 1989 Mar-Apr;11(2):319-24. doi: 10.1093/clinids/11.2.319.

Abstract

The combination of acute pharyngotonsillitis, neck pain, fever, and pulmonary septic emboli caused by Fusobacterium necrophorum in a healthy young person is extremely rare. The entity was described by Lemierre in 1936 as a typical syndrome easy to recognize and diagnose exclusively on clinical grounds. A case of Lemierre's disease is reported, and 10 other cases found in the medical literature are reviewed.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Fusobacterium Infections / diagnosis*
  • Fusobacterium necrophorum
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Pharyngitis / diagnosis*
  • Pulmonary Embolism / diagnosis*
  • Pulmonary Embolism / diagnostic imaging
  • Radiography
  • Sepsis / diagnosis*
  • Syndrome
  • Tonsillitis / diagnosis*
  • Ultrasonography