The Forgotten Disease: A Case of Lemierre's Syndrome

Abstract

Lemierre’s syndrome (LS) is a rare but life-threatening condition that presents as an oropharyngeal infection. There is no screening test for it, and its diagnosis is clinical. We report the case of a previously healthy young man who presented with LS. His diagnosis was made with bedside ultrasound; hence, we recommend it as a screening tool in the emergency department. His delayed treatment resulted in his demise. In a developed country with easy access to antibiotics, we need to urgently raise physician’s awareness toward LS and highlight the importance of early diagnosis and antibiotic use for its patients.