Risk of Delayed Sepsis Diagnosis in Young Patients-Case Report of Post Anginal Sepsis (Lemierre’s Syndrome)

Lemierre's syndrome represents a rare, but life-threatening cause of sepsis syndrome characterized by initial pharyngeal infection. Delayed diagnosis may lead to severe complications and fatal outcome. Here we report a case of a 27-year-old adult presenting in the Emergency Department with prolonged throat soreness. Manifestation of Lemierre's syndrome including pharyngeal abscesses, left internal jugular vein thrombosis and multiple septic embolic metastases could only be diagnosed by contrast enhanced computed tomography and highly elevated procalcitonin levels in this case. After initiation of antibiotic and surgical treatment the patient recovered without any complications. The case report underlines the diagnostic challenges and the importance of Lemierre's syndrome as a rare, but potentially life-threatening cause of sepsis.