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Head and neck emergencies: bacterial meningitis, encephalitis, brain abscess, upper airway obstruction, and jugular

Catherine J Derber1, Stephanie B Troy

  • 1Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Eastern Virginia Medical School, Norfolk, VA, USA. derbercj@evms.edu

The Medical Clinics of North America
|October 30, 2012
PubMed

Insights

Prompt recognition and treatment of head and neck infectious emergencies are critical. Immediate empiric antibiotics for meningitis and acyclovir for encephalitis, alongside potential surgical interventions, are vital for patient survival and reduced morbidity.

Area of Science:

  • Infectious Diseases
  • Emergency Medicine
  • Neurosurgery

Background:

  • Head and neck infectious disease emergencies pose significant risks, including rapid fatality.
  • Prompt diagnosis and intervention are crucial for managing potentially life-threatening conditions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the causes, diagnostic methods, treatment strategies, and prognoses of common head and neck infectious disease emergencies.
  • To emphasize the importance of early recognition and management in critical care settings.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of common head and neck infectious disease emergencies.
  • Discussion of diagnostic criteria and therapeutic approaches, including medical and surgical interventions.

Main Results:

  • Bacterial meningitis requires immediate empiric intravenous (IV) antibiotics.
  • Suspected encephalitis necessitates prompt IV acyclovir administration.
  • Surgical intervention is frequently required for brain abscesses, epiglottitis, and Ludwig's angina.

Conclusions:

  • A high index of suspicion is essential for diagnosing conditions like epiglottitis, Ludwig's angina, and Lemierre's syndrome.
  • Timely and appropriate treatment can mitigate high morbidity associated with brain infections.
  • Effective management of these emergencies is key to improving patient outcomes.

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