A university rower thought he had tonsillitis, then died of Lemierre syndrome

It is always important to have the medical symptoms checked by a doctor, even if you assume that they are relatively harmless. Samantha Scott, a 23-year-old rower, recently lost her life after having a sore throat and throat swelling in the form of tonsillitis – while it was noticeable. an extremely rare bacterial infection.

According to Fox 31 Denver, the student at Kansas State University began to feel sick two weeks before her death. However, she cleared the symptoms, thinking that they were not a big problem. When she finally managed to get to the hospital, the doctors diagnosed Lemierre syndrome, but unfortunately it was too late to save her life and she passed away on Saturday.

"Samantha was a great leader for our program and, more importantly, a great person," explained her rowing coach Patrick Sweeney in a statement released by Kansas State University. "She was so appreciated by all of her teammates and had a tremendous impact on our program, both at sea and out of the water."

What is Lemierre syndrome?

According to the National Institutes of Health, Lemierre syndrome is a rare and potentially fatal infection caused by various types of bacteria, but generally by Fusobacterium necrophorum. The infection begins in the throat and spreads through the lymphatic vessels. Unfortunately, we do not understand why this disease develops, because Fusobacterium necrophorum is often present in the throat of healthy people.

What are the common symptoms of Lemierre syndrome?

Common symptoms include a sore throat and fever, followed by an internal jugular swelling vain. Tissues containing pus can spread to various organs, usually the lungs. However, the joints, muscles, skin and soft tissues, liver and spleen can also be affected.

How is Lemierre Syndrome treated?

The disease is usually treated with intravenous antibiotics. If a patient does not respond, internal jugular vein surgery may be necessary.

Prognosis of Lemierre syndrome

The mortality rate is only 5 to 10% thanks to the progress of antibiotherapy. However, if the disease is not diagnosed in time, the result will worsen considerably. Possible complications may include bone infections, meningitis and acute respiratory distress syndrome.