Ludwig's angina

1.What is Ludwig's angina? is it same like unstable angina or pectoris angina which common seen in medical. Before we are focussing about the topic of Ludwig's angina, what is actually a definition of angina..

2.Angina comes from the latin verb 'angere' meaning 'to choke or throttle'. Ludwig's angina is far different from unstable angina. Ludwig is named after the German physician Wilheim Freidreich Von Ludwig who first described this condition in 1836.

3. Ludwig's angina is a serious, potentially life threatening infection of the tissue of the floor of the mouth spreading into submandibular space followed by or concomitant dental infection. Ludwig's angina can be emergency condition in ENT due to potential airway compromised.

4.Treatment modalities for Ludwig's angina can be clasiffied into medical and surgical treatment. Usually medical therapy is benefit to reduce the progress of infection. The used of broad spectrum antibiotic such as augmentin, zinacef and or or flagyl id widely used in hospital. However, there is a role of surgical intervention if there is presence of airway compromised that required emergency tracheostomy and incision and drainage to drain out pus.

5.So far,in my limtid experience in ENT field, i had never come with patient with ludwig's angina that need for tracheostomy, but i have done once an incision and drainage for this condition. The important to remember is, do not simply treat Ludwig's angina as such simple cellulitis because it can progress to life threatening condition.