Severe pneumonia and jaundice in a young man: An atypical presentation of an uncommon disease

We present a patient with an atypical presentation of Fusobacterium infection, the genus responsible for Lemierre's syndrome. This syndrome, which often affects healthy, young people and can be fatal if not recognized and treated early, is defined as a history of recent oropharyngeal infection with clinical or radiological evidence of internal jugular vein thrombosis and isolation of anaerobic pathogens, mainly Fusobacterium necrophorum. The history, presentation, investigations and management of the patient are described and then contrasted with the existing literature surrounding Lemierre's syndrome, once termed the 'forgotten disease'.© 2011 SGM.