A pus-filled lump in your neck should not be underestimated!

Neck pain can happen to anyone, perhaps due to the wrong pillow or stiff neck muscles from working at the computer for too long. This type of neck pain is easy to treat. Another story with pain caused by Ludwig angina, due to a pus-filled lump in the neck deep. For more details, see the following reviews.

Ludwig angina, a pus-filled lump in the neck deep

Ludwig angina is a rare bacterial infection that occurs on the floor of the mouth, under the tongue. Ludwig angina often occurs after an infection at the root of a tooth, such as a tooth abscess (pus inside the tooth), or an injury in the mouth area. It can also be caused by other types of oral infections. Usually, adults are more prone to experiencing Ludwig angina than children.

What are the symptoms?

This condition causes the formation of abscesses or pus-filled lumps in the neck to its surroundings. Apart from that, Ludwig angina also causes swollen tongue, neck pain, and breathing problems.

When this condition is followed by another infection in the mouth, symptoms include:

• Pain in the bottom of the mouth or under the tongue.
• You feel a lump causing difficulty swallowing and speaking, and you continue to salivate.
• The neck is swollen and painful.
• The neck becomes red.
• The body is weak and tired easily.
• Ear pain.
• Swollen tongue.
• Fever.
• Hot and cold body.

As the infection progresses, you may experience difficulty breathing along with chest pain. This can be a serious sign and can develop into complications that can lead to death.

Complications of Ludwig angina can include sepsis (bacterial infection in the blood) or obstruction of the respiratory tract due to the body's response to bacteria that causes severe inflammation.

So, check with your doctor immediately if you have symptoms of Ludwig angina.

What caused it?

The pus-filled lumps in the deep neck due to Ludwig angina are caused by bacterial infections, mainly Streptococcus and Staphylococcus bacteria.

This disease usually occurs in people with the following conditions:

• Poor oral and dental hygiene.
• Have experienced trauma or a tear in the mouth.
• Just pulled a tooth.
• Have a mouth or tooth infection.

How is Ludwig angina diagnosed?

A basic physical exam can help the doctor determine whether the swelling in the neck is really due to Ludwig angina. For example, redness and swelling of the neck or tongue which is very obvious.

The doctor can also take a saliva sample to look for a bacterial infection, and neck and mouth imaging tests.

Various ways to treat and relieve the symptoms of Ludwig angina

Reporting from the Health Line, Ludwig angina treatment can differ based on the original cause.

Delayed treatment increases the risk of complications and life-threatening, such as:

• Clogged air ducts
• Sepsis, which is a severe reaction to bacteria or other germs
• Septic shock, which is an infection that causes blood pressure to be dangerously low

The swelling that occurs with Ludwig angina can interfere with your breathing. The doctor will insert a breathing tube through the nose or mouth and into the lungs to clear the airways. In severe and emergency cases, a breathing tube will be inserted through the neck and throat through a tracheostomy procedure.

In addition, this condition often causes edema, which is swelling due to excess fluid. So, a surgical procedure is needed to drain the excess fluid in the swollen oral cavity.

You may also need antibiotics that are injected into a vein until the symptoms disappear. After that, you will be recommended to take oral medication until the next test shows that the bacteria have been removed.

Maintaining oral hygiene and health is the key to preventing Ludwig angina

Do not forget to regularly brush your teeth twice a day, in the morning after meals and at night before going to bed.

Cut down on foods that can injure teeth, gums, tongue, or mouth, for example food is too hot or too hard and rough.

Fulfill the needs of vitamin C which protects you from canker sores while increasing the immune system against bacteria and viruses. Then, check your teeth to the dentist regularly at least every 6 months.