Not just a simple sore throat

Abstract

The presentation of a ‘sore throat’ is common and often requires only symptomatic treatment. This is the case of a 20-year-old female who presented with persistent symptoms of a sore throat. On admission she had raised inflammatory markers and a subsequent blood culture demonstrated a fusobacterium necrophorum and arcanobacterium haemolyticum bacteraemia. Further investigations established an internal jugular vein thrombosis, confirming the diagnosis of Lemierre’s syndrome. This case highlights the importance of further investigation when a sore throat fails to improve, and to remember this often-forgotten syndrome.