Warning Signs Of Ludwig's Angina

Ludwig's angina, which is considered to be a form of cellulitis, or severe diffuse irritation or inflammation of the sublingual space or the sub-mandibular space, can be life-threatening. Ludwig's angina primarily affects the soft tissues of the floor of the mouth and the neck. Usually, the infection that causes Ludwig's angina begins in the lower second and third molars. The majority of Ludwig's angina cases are caused by Bacteroides bacteria, Staphylococcus bacteria, and Streptococcus bacteria. The main dangers that present with Ludwig's angina are the whole or partial obstruction of the airways. Before there were significant findings of antibiotic infection control, about half of all patients who had Ludwig's angina died from the blockage of the airway. Reveal the warning signs of this condition now.

Swollen Tongue

A swollen tongue is a common occurrence with Ludwig's angina, because the infection origin is within close proximity to the tongue itself. The progression from the mandibular molars or rearmost molars to the hypopharyngeal and sublingual regions will cause the swelling of the tongue. Usually, a swollen tongue can be felt easily, but sometimes the way an individual's voice sounds can indicate swelling. When an infection has spread to the base of the tongue, the area usually becomes very inflamed and makes it hard to eat and swallow due to swelling. Swelling occurs in body tissues because of the inflammatory response the body has. The dilation of blood vessels and the increase in permeability of the vessels allows for better blood flow and a supply of white blood cells, fluid, and proteins to the infected tissues. This is why with Ludwig's angina, the tongue can increase in general size and occupy more of the mouth as the infection moves into and past that area of the lower oral cavity.

Learn more about the symptoms of Ludwig's angina now.