Divya Kanakalingam

Lemierre’s syndrome, a rare and fatal illness, involves a triad of infection within the oropharyngeal region, thrombophlebitis of the internal jugular vein and distant metastatic abscesses1. A 68-year-old woman presented with right-sided neck swelling, cough, trouble swallowing, and hoarseness of voice following a 2-week sore throat. She was in septic shock and initial resuscitation was commenced. Computed tomography(CT) neck showed extensive bilateral neck abscesses with pulmonary infiltrates and right jugular vein thrombus. Blood cultures grew Fusobacterium necrophorum, an anaerobic gram-negative rod, which is characteristically seen in Lemierre’s syndrome. We acknowledge the need to further understand and raise awareness of this uncommon condition.