Tongue Abscess: A Case Report
Telila Mesfin,1 Gosaye Debele,2 Kenbon Seyoum,3 Sisay Dadi,4 Mesfin Tsegaye,1 Degefa Gomora,3 Chala Kene,3 Gudisa Tolosa1 1Department of Medicine, Madda Walabu University Goba General Hospital, Goba, Ethiopia; 2Department of Surgery, Madda Walabu University Goba General Hospital, Goba, Ethiopia; 3De...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Dove Medical Press
2022-12-01
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| Series: | International Medical Case Reports Journal |
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| Online Access: | https://www.dovepress.com/tongue-abscess-a-case-report-peer-reviewed-fulltext-article-IMCRJ |
| _version_ | 1797962708430094336 |
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| author | Mesfin T Debele G Seyoum K Dadi S Tsegaye M Gomora D Kene C Tolosa G |
| author_facet | Mesfin T Debele G Seyoum K Dadi S Tsegaye M Gomora D Kene C Tolosa G |
| author_sort | Mesfin T |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Telila Mesfin,1 Gosaye Debele,2 Kenbon Seyoum,3 Sisay Dadi,4 Mesfin Tsegaye,1 Degefa Gomora,3 Chala Kene,3 Gudisa Tolosa1 1Department of Medicine, Madda Walabu University Goba General Hospital, Goba, Ethiopia; 2Department of Surgery, Madda Walabu University Goba General Hospital, Goba, Ethiopia; 3Department of Midwifery, Madda Walabu University Goba General Hospital, Goba, Ethiopia; 4Department of Internal Medicine, Madda Walabu University Goba General Hospital, Goba, EthiopiaCorrespondence: Telila Mesfin, Tel +251931504321, Email telilamesfintadesse@gmail.comIntroduction: Abscess of the tongue is a very rare disease that potentially compromises the airway. Acute tongue abscess symptoms include swelling or a lump in the deep tissues of the tongue, throbbing local pain, a discomfort that radiates to the ears, fever, difficulty swallowing, deliberate fixation of the tongue due to pain, and eventually, difficulties breathing.Case: This is a 50-year-old male patient who presented with a complaint of severe tongue pain and swelling of three days duration. Associated with this, he had pain while swallowing, difficulty opening his mouth, shortness of breath, and drooling saliva. Likewise, he had a high-grade fever and a global type of headache. On physical examination, there was significant tongue swelling on the left anterolateral area, fluctuant on palpation, and had erythematous border. After informed consent was taken the patient was transferred to the operation room with the diagnosis of tongue abscess. Subsequently, incision and drainage were done under general anesthesia, and about 30mL of thick pus was drained. The pocket was washed with normal saline and 2% hydrogen peroxide. The patient was transferred to the surgical ward with stable vital signs and had been on antibiotics. He was discharged after two days of hospital stay.Conclusion: Abscesses in the tongue are quite uncommon due to its rich vascular supply, lymphatic drainage, and saliva’s immunologic advantage. Thorough diagnosis and successful treatment of tongue abscess prevent potential airway compromise. Antibiotic treatment should cover gram-positive and gram-negative anaerobes.Keywords: tongue abscess, khat chewing, sonography |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-11T01:18:15Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-365ceab3d4ac4ac397660ca9ef0477c8 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1179-142X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-11T01:18:15Z |
| publishDate | 2022-12-01 |
| publisher | Dove Medical Press |
| record_format | Article |
| series | International Medical Case Reports Journal |
| spelling | doaj.art-365ceab3d4ac4ac397660ca9ef0477c82023-01-03T18:09:28ZengDove Medical PressInternational Medical Case Reports Journal1179-142X2022-12-01Volume 1576977280708Tongue Abscess: A Case ReportMesfin TDebele GSeyoum KDadi STsegaye MGomora DKene CTolosa GTelila Mesfin,1 Gosaye Debele,2 Kenbon Seyoum,3 Sisay Dadi,4 Mesfin Tsegaye,1 Degefa Gomora,3 Chala Kene,3 Gudisa Tolosa1 1Department of Medicine, Madda Walabu University Goba General Hospital, Goba, Ethiopia; 2Department of Surgery, Madda Walabu University Goba General Hospital, Goba, Ethiopia; 3Department of Midwifery, Madda Walabu University Goba General Hospital, Goba, Ethiopia; 4Department of Internal Medicine, Madda Walabu University Goba General Hospital, Goba, EthiopiaCorrespondence: Telila Mesfin, Tel +251931504321, Email telilamesfintadesse@gmail.comIntroduction: Abscess of the tongue is a very rare disease that potentially compromises the airway. Acute tongue abscess symptoms include swelling or a lump in the deep tissues of the tongue, throbbing local pain, a discomfort that radiates to the ears, fever, difficulty swallowing, deliberate fixation of the tongue due to pain, and eventually, difficulties breathing.Case: This is a 50-year-old male patient who presented with a complaint of severe tongue pain and swelling of three days duration. Associated with this, he had pain while swallowing, difficulty opening his mouth, shortness of breath, and drooling saliva. Likewise, he had a high-grade fever and a global type of headache. On physical examination, there was significant tongue swelling on the left anterolateral area, fluctuant on palpation, and had erythematous border. After informed consent was taken the patient was transferred to the operation room with the diagnosis of tongue abscess. Subsequently, incision and drainage were done under general anesthesia, and about 30mL of thick pus was drained. The pocket was washed with normal saline and 2% hydrogen peroxide. The patient was transferred to the surgical ward with stable vital signs and had been on antibiotics. He was discharged after two days of hospital stay.Conclusion: Abscesses in the tongue are quite uncommon due to its rich vascular supply, lymphatic drainage, and saliva’s immunologic advantage. Thorough diagnosis and successful treatment of tongue abscess prevent potential airway compromise. Antibiotic treatment should cover gram-positive and gram-negative anaerobes.Keywords: tongue abscess, khat chewing, sonographyhttps://www.dovepress.com/tongue-abscess-a-case-report-peer-reviewed-fulltext-article-IMCRJtongue abscesskhat chewingsonography |
| spellingShingle | Mesfin T Debele G Seyoum K Dadi S Tsegaye M Gomora D Kene C Tolosa G Tongue Abscess: A Case Report International Medical Case Reports Journal tongue abscess khat chewing sonography |
| title | Tongue Abscess: A Case Report |
| title_full | Tongue Abscess: A Case Report |
| title_fullStr | Tongue Abscess: A Case Report |
| title_full_unstemmed | Tongue Abscess: A Case Report |
| title_short | Tongue Abscess: A Case Report |
| title_sort | tongue abscess a case report |
| topic | tongue abscess khat chewing sonography |
| url | https://www.dovepress.com/tongue-abscess-a-case-report-peer-reviewed-fulltext-article-IMCRJ |
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