Q: What is Ludwig's angina?
A: Ludwig's angina is the name for a severe bacterial infection that occurs in the floor of the mouth, under the tongue, and causes swelling that could block the airway. It often occurs after a person has had an infection around the roots of the teeth, like an abscess, or after a trauma, like a blow to the mouth. Symptoms may include pain, swelling and redness of the neck, fever, fatigue and, in emergency cases, difficulty in breathing. There may also be earache and, because the blockage prevents the swallowing of saliva, drooling. Swelling can sometimes come on quite quickly.
Antibiotics, usually penicillin or a penicillin-like drug, constitute the standard course of treatment. For a severe case, in which swelling begins to close the airway, it may be necessary to insert a breathing tube through the mouth or nose directly to the lungs, or to perform a tracheotomy, which means surgically creating an opening in the neck for insertion of a breathing tube.
Regular visits to the dentist and prompt treatment of any infection in the mouth can prevent the infection that leads to Ludwig's angina. Talk with your dentist about ways to prevent infection in your mouth.
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