Lemierre's syndrome: case report of "the forgotten disease" in current COVID-19 pandemic.

Abstract

Lemierre's syndrome refers to infectious thrombophlebitis of the internal jugular vein developed as complication of an oropharyngeal infection. It is a rare syndrome, affecting otherwise healthy young adults, which may lead to sepsis complicated by septic embolization. Although there is a characteristic clinical picture, many modern physicians are unaware of this syndrome, leading it to be termed 'the forgotten disease'. The authors report a case of late diagnosis due to initial suspicion of COVID-19 and highlight the pitfalls on its diagnosis.