A Fatal Outcome of Ludwig's Angina and Necrotizing Fasciitis Following Traditional Tooth Extraction.

Abstract

Ludwig's angina is a potentially fatal condition characterized by a rapid onset of cellulitis that bilaterally involves the submandibular, sublingual, and submental spaces. This report describes the case of a 29-year-old female who presented to us with Ludwig's angina following a tooth extraction performed by a traditional healer in Southwestern Uganda. The patient stayed home for over a week before she could seek formal treatment, and this delay led to severe infection and necrotizing fasciitis with extensive tissue necrosis. Despite multiple in-hospital interventions which included incision, drainage, and debridement, the patient succumbed to complications such as secondary lung infection, septicemia, and disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC). This case report highlights the importance of timely medical intervention, socioeconomic barriers, and antibiotic resistance challenges.