Mediastinitis: a life-threatening complication of acute tonsillitis

Acute tonsillitis is a common condition and usually runs a benign course. However life-threatening complications do still occur, even in this postantibiotic era. Infection can spread downwards into the mediastinum through the anatomic cervical spaces, causing widespread cellulitis, necrosis, abscess...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of laryngology and otology 2005-09, Vol.119 (9), p.743-745
Main Authors: Bell, Z, Menezes, A A C, Primrose, W J, McGuigan, J A
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
(RF) Otorhinolaryngology
Acute Disease
Adolescent
Biological and medical sciences
Complications
Female
Humans
Mediastinitis
Mediastinitis - diagnosis
Mediastinitis - drug therapy
Mediastinitis - etiology
Medical sciences
Otorhinolaryngology. Stomatology
Retropharyngeal Abscess
Tomography, X-Ray Computed
Tonsillitis
Tonsillitis - complications
Treatment Outcome
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Summary:Acute tonsillitis is a common condition and usually runs a benign course. However life-threatening complications do still occur, even in this postantibiotic era. Infection can spread downwards into the mediastinum through the anatomic cervical spaces, causing widespread cellulitis, necrosis, abscess formation and sepsis. We present a case of descending mediastinitis in an 18-year-old woman, arising from her first episode of tonsillitis and treated successfully by surgical drainage. We believe that an awareness of this complication, early diagnosis using computed tomography scanning, and prompt, adequate surgical drainage will reduce morbidity and mortality.
ISSN:0022-2151
1748-5460
DOI:10.1258/0022215054797853