Early antibiotic treatment may prevent complete development of Lemierre's syndrome: Experience from 2 cases

Lemierre's syndrome is a rare fulminant condition caused by an acute oropha ryngeal infection, with secondary septic thrombophlebitis or the internal j ugular rein complicated by multiple metastatic infections. Herein we report 2 patients with internal jugular vein thrombosis secondary to oropharyngea l infection, whose clinical course was indolent, and who were asymptomatic shortly after antibiotic therapy was begun. Careful examination or the neck in patients presenting vith sore throat could help identify the typical 'c ord sign'. In such cases, intravenous antibiotic treatment should be starte d as soon as possible to prevent development of metastatic infections and s epticaemia characterizing Lemierre's syndrome.