Lemierre syndrome in a 5-month-old male infant: Case report and review of the pediatric literature.

OBJECTIVES

To report, to the best of our knowledge, the youngest patient with Lemierre syndrome.

DESIGN

Descriptive case report with review of the pediatric literature.

SETTING

Pediatric intensive care unit in a tertiary referral hospital.

DATA SOURCE

Systemic review of the literature, including PubMed (English-only journals) and major textbooks.

PATIENT

We report a 5-month-old boy who presented with fever and a perforated left-sided otitis media. He developed left-sided complicated otitis media with retroauricular fluid collection, mastoiditis, and temporomandibular joint effusion. The clinical picture was complicated by a left internal jugular vein and left lateral sinus thrombosis. Fusobacterium necrophorum grew in the pus culture.

INTERVENTIONS

Low molecular weight heparin.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

No immunodeficiency and no thrombophilia were identified as predisposing conditions for Lemierre syndrome. Surgical drainage, early and adequate antibiotic treatment, and anticoagulation were followed by complete recovery.

CONCLUSIONS

This case report illustrates that Lemierre syndrome can occur in infants without underlying risk factors for severe infections or thrombotic complications.