2025 Volume 32 Article ID: 32_R33
Lemierre’s syndrome is a severe disease that is caused by laryngopharynx infection and develops into septic thrombophlebitis of the internal jugular vein and subsequent septic embolism of whole body organs. Severe pharyngeal pain is one of the initial symptoms of the disease, but it is difficult to distinguish Lemierre’s syndrome from COVID-19. Organ involvement is often confirmed in the lungs and bone joints, but complication to the central nervous system is rarely observed. We experienced a case of Lemierre’s syndrome during isolation for COVID-19. During the treatment course, the patient developed various central nervous system complications, including encephalitis, cerebral abscess, stenosis of the internal carotid artery, and cerebral infarction. This case shows that in treatment for severe pharyngeal pain, careful attention is required for differential diagnosis from severe pharyngeal infection and COVID-19. When severe Lemierre’s syndrome is confirmed, careful follow-up observation is needed based on the possibility of central nervous system complications, and head imaging tests should be conducted.
