Grave Complication of Pharyngitis: Lemierre syndrome.

Fusobacterium necrophorum is the causative agent in the pharyngitis. After invasion of the oropharyngeal mucosa by the organism leads to the development of the grave complications like superficial thrombophlebitis of internal jugular vein, septic emboli in the lung and coagulopathy. A 23-year-old male presented with chief complaints of sore throat, headache and high grade fever with past history of upper respiratory tract infection one month ago. On examination, he had high grade fever, tachycardia, hypotension and tender cervical lymph nodes. Oropharyngeal mucosa appeared ooedematous and congested. Leucocytosis with raised ESR was present. Blood culture positive for Fusobacterium necrophorum. Dilated right IJV with the hypoechoic thrombosis seen on Ultrasonography & Doppler. Patient was diagnosed as a case of Lemierre syndrome secondary to oropharyngeal infection was made. He was treated with intravenous imipenem and metronidazole, and then shifted to oral amoxicillin. After completion of full course of the therapy of 6 weeks, patient was improved clinically and all routine blood investigations were normalized. Blood culture was negative for Fusobacterium necrophorum. No evidence of thrombosis within the right internal jugular vein on Doppler.

Incidental diagnosis of liver tuberculosis in a patient with jaundice.

A 30-year-old afebrile woman presented with anorexia, yellowish discolouration of the sclera and bilateral pedal oedema. Blood investigations revealed severe anaemia, raised erythrocyte sedimentation rate and thrombocytopaenia. Liver function tests were abnormal with raised bilirubin, alanine transaminase and prothrombin time. Chest roentgenogram was negative for tuberculosis. Abdominal ultrasonography (USG) revealed coarsened echotexture of the liver with surface nodularity. Contrast-enhanced CT scan revealed heterogeneity with surface and parenchymal nodularity scattered throughout the liver parenchyma. USG-guided liver biopsy was performed, which showed changes in granulomatous hepatitis with positive Ziehl-Neelsen staining for acid-fast bacilli. The patient was started on antituberculous drugs. After completion of the antituberculous regimen, the patient made an uneventful recovery with normal range of aspartate aminotransferase, serum albumin and prothrombin time. In summary, isolated liver tuberculosis is rare and a high index of suspicion is required in a patient from an area where tuberculosis is endemic, after excluding other common diffuse liver pathologies.