Inspiratory dyspnea revealing a base of tongue abscess: a case report

• Amal Samet

  Hopital universitaire de Gabes

Abstract:

Background: A base of tongue abscess is a rare but serious condition that can compromise vital prognosis due to upper airway obstruction and the septic syndrome it may cause.

Case presentation: This case is about a 62-year-old diabetic woman presented with inspiratory dyspnea in the context of fever. On examination, she showed signs of respiratory distress, with an oxygen saturation of 78%, submandibular and supraclavicular retractions. Due to the impossibility of intubation, a tracheotomy was performed. Radiological exploration revealed an abscess at the base of the tongue, exerting a mass effect on the upper airways. The patient underwent endoscopic drainage of the abscess and was treated with cefotaxime, gentamicin, and metronidazole. After stabilization, the dental origin of the abscess was confirmed.

Conclusion: A base of tongue abscess is a diagnostic and therapeutic emergency to preserve vital prognosis.

• PDF

Copyright (c) 2025 Tunisian Journal of Emergency Medicine

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.