The "Forgotten Disease" in a healthy young adult : a case report of Lemierre's Syndrome
Ayaz, Aimen Mathews, Jishel Majeed, Salman Jamil, Arshad
Ayaz, Aimen
Mathews, Jishel
Majeed, Salman
Jamil, Arshad
Affiliation
Sandwell and West Birmingham NHS Trust; Northampton General Hospital NHS Trust
Other Contributors
Publication date
2025-09-23
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Collections
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Abstract
Lemierre's syndrome is a rare, life-threatening condition caused by the anaerobic bacterium Fusobacterium necrophorum, typically affecting otherwise healthy individuals. The case report aims to raise awareness of this often-overlooked condition to help prevent associated morbidity and mortality. We present the case of a 22-year-old male who developed sepsis secondary to upper and lower respiratory tract infections. The patient experienced a four-week history of worsening cough and shortness of breath, followed by the onset of fever. His clinical condition rapidly deteriorated, leading to sepsis and type 1 respiratory failure, although invasive ventilation was not required. Computed tomography (CT) scans of the neck and chest revealed thrombosis of the right internal jugular and right pharyngeal veins, along with septic emboli in the lungs. Growth of Fusobacterium necrophorum in blood culturesconfirmed the diagnosis of Lemierre's syndrome. Aggressive treatment with antibiotics and anticoagulants resulted in a full recovery and resolution of thrombosis. Although rare, Lemierre's syndrome remains a potentially fatal condition, and clinicians should maintain a high index of suspicion.
Citation
Ayaz A, Mathews J, Majeed S, Jamil A. The "Forgotten Disease" in a Healthy Young Adult: A Case Report of Lemierre's Syndrome. Cureus. 2025 Sep 23;17(9):e93042. doi: 10.7759/cureus.93042
Type
Article