Case history
Case history
A 19-month-old boy presents with a swinging fever and irritability. The parents report that the child has been pulling at his throat and ears, which they think indicates that the child is in pain. He has also been lethargic and has neck stiffness. The child is drooling and shows signs of sensitivity to light.
Other presentations
Other common presentations include decreased oral intake of food and drink, neck pain (especially on movement), odynophagia (painful swallowing), neck swelling (or mass or lymphadenopathy), dysphagia, and anorexia. Less common presenting features include trismus (lockjaw), dysphonia (hoarseness), dyspnoea, stridor, and sleep apnoea.[3]
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