Anyone know anything about Ludwig's Angina?

[LonePenguin]

My Dad has been hospitalised with it today. Trying to find out how bad it could get without the horror stories on Google. He went really quickly from toothache to a swollen face/ neck and not being able to breathe properly.

Anyone?

I've never heard of it and have been working in the NHS for 30 years. I had to look up a case study.
It sounds like a very nasty dental infection that is dangerous because the area of infection specifically can obstruct the airway so sometimes a tracheostomy is needed worse case scenario to maintain the airway while the antibiotics take effect and the swelling goes down.
Interesting to note that it used to cause 50% mortality in the days before antibiotics but now mortality rates are very low if this is caught and treated in time.
I hope your dad isn't too unwell but it sounds like he is in the right place now.

Ducking scary illness. Seen it once.
Called for a lot of help.

DOI: anaesthetist

@Acovic

Ducking scary illness. Seen it once. Called for a lot of help.

DOI: anaesthetist

Were they ok in the end do you know?

@Shehasadiamondinthesky

I've never heard of it and have been working in the NHS for 30 years. I had to look up a case study. It sounds like a very nasty dental infection that is dangerous because the area of infection specifically can obstruct the airway so sometimes a tracheostomy is needed worse case scenario to maintain the airway while the antibiotics take effect and the swelling goes down. Interesting to note that it used to cause 50% mortality in the days before antibiotics but now mortality rates are very low if this is caught and treated in time. I hope your dad isn't too unwell but it sounds like he is in the right place now.

Thank you for the information. As no one can be with him it makes it extra scary.

Yes, as a dentist it's well known and one of the things you hope never to see.

My mum has been crying on the phone to me She says that she has found that it has around a 5-10℅ risk of death. She hasn't been able to speak to him yet and when he went to hospital he was so unwell. And it came on so quickly I think she is in shock. I wish I could tell her that everything will be OK.

Yes. Patient was fine after a stint on ICU.