Ultrasound examination of the maxillofacial area

Abscess on the tongue - what is dangerous about an abscess in the mouth and how to remove it without consequences

Tongue abscess is a serious pathological condition, which is characterized by the appearance of a purulent neoplasm against the background of rapid spread of inflammation. In this case, the patient begins to experience severe malaise, the body temperature may rise sharply, and the organ itself will become swollen, which will result in problems with diction, eating, and even breathing. As part of the diagnosis, the doctor may suggest performing a puncture to find out more about the contents of the abscess. Today we’ll talk about the reasons why a purulent process can begin to develop, what accompanying symptoms are characteristic of this condition, and what methods of treating an abscess are used today.

Symptoms

The main symptoms of this disease are:

• An increase in acute, throbbing or aching toothache, intensifying with food intake;
• Experiencing a bitter taste or unpleasant odor in the mouth;
• Feeling of general weakness, headache, apathy, insomnia, lack of appetite;
• Increased tooth sensitivity;
• The gums become inflamed, there is swelling, redness, a small compaction or swelling filled with pus is formed;
• There is an enlargement of the cervical lymph nodes;
• As the infection develops, nausea appears and body temperature rises;
• Facial asymmetry may appear, the size of one cheek, lower or upper lip may increase.

It is important to know that an abscess that begins on one tooth, if left untreated, can spread to the next. If the outer shell cannot withstand and ruptures, the pus comes out, it becomes easier and the pain goes away, but there is a risk of purulent masses getting into healthy tissues and teeth, and the sad story repeating. Ignoring purulent seals in the oral cavity can lead to such dire consequences: tooth loss, death of jaw tissue, development of respiratory diseases (pneumonia, sore throat) and vision. This is also fraught with paralysis of the facial nerves, and the entire body is exposed to acute intoxication.

Features of a purulent abscess

An abscess on the oral mucosa is a kind of abscess, which is characterized by severe inflammation and the formation of purulent masses. Gradually, it leads to the death of living tissue, and in an advanced stage it is accompanied by a general deterioration in the patient’s condition and the appearance of severe pain during talking, chewing food and even breathing. Obviously, this pathology can provoke very serious consequences for the body as a whole, so under no circumstances should an abscess in the oral cavity be ignored.

The photo shows a tongue abscess

An abscess of the root of the tongue, as, in fact, of any other part of this organ, is quite readily treatable, but requires an integrated approach to solving the problem. It is important to understand here that the sooner inflammation is detected, the easier and faster it can be eliminated. The pathology in question has a serious impact on the overall health and immunity, so do not hesitate with treatment.

Abscesses and phlegmons of the tongue

Purulent processes of the tongue can occur both in the own muscles of the moving part of the tongue and in the cellular spaces of its root. Abscesses of the mobile part of the tongue most often occur as a result of infection of wounds, as well as when foreign bodies of a food nature, most often fish bones, are introduced into the tongue. The patient complains of sharp pain when swallowing and moving the tongue. When palpating the tongue, there is a painful infiltrate, which is located more often on the lateral surface, less often on the dorsal surface. Fluctuation is usually not determined due to the localization of the purulent focus in the muscle layers. The opening of abscesses of the movable part of the tongue is carried out with longitudinal incisions at the site of the greatest protrusion.

The boundaries of the root of the tongue are: above - the own muscles of the tongue; below - mylohyoid muscle; outside - the genioglossus and hyoglossus muscles of the right and left sides. On the pharyngeal surface of the root of the tongue there is a lingual tonsil, which is part of the lymphoid ring of the Pirogov-Waldeyer pharynx (palatine, tubal, pharyngeal and lingual tonsils).

The main source of infection can be infected wounds of the tongue. The purulent-inflammatory process that develops in the area of ​​the root of the tongue can spread from the lingual tonsil, from the sublingual, submental and submandibular tissue spaces. Less commonly, the source of infection is foci of odontogenic infection located in the area of ​​the large molars of the lower jaw. We should not forget about suppuration of congenital cysts of the tongue.

Clinic. With abscesses and phlegmon of the root of the tongue, patients complain of severe pain in the area of ​​its root, which radiates to the ear. Swallowing saliva and liquid is extremely painful and sometimes even impossible. When you try to take a sip, the liquid enters the respiratory tract and causes a painful cough. As a rule, due to swelling of the epiglottis, breathing problems occur; sometimes, as a result of eustachitis, hearing decreases.

The clinical course of phlegmon of the root of the tongue is severe . The tongue is sharply enlarged in size, does not fit in the oral cavity, and its mobility is sharply limited. The mouth is slightly open, thick saliva is released from the mouth, often with an unpleasant odor. Palpation reveals uniform swelling and density of the tongue; pressing on its back (along the midline) causes sharp pain.

pain. The mucous membrane of the tongue is hyperemic and cyanotic. Fluctuation is usually not determined, since the purulent focus is located between the muscles. The back of the tongue is covered with a dry purulent coating. The infiltrate can be felt in the depths of the submental region above the hyoid bone.

Treatment. Surgical access for purulent-inflammatory processes of the root of the tongue, extraoral. A 4 cm long incision is made from the side of the skin along the midline or in the submental area. Spreading the edges of the wound with hooks, the mylohyoid muscles are cut along the seam. They stupidly push apart the soft tissues and penetrate to the purulent focus. Drainage of the latter is carried out with active double tubular drainage. Sometimes, with increasing hypoxia, there is a need to form a tracheostomy.

Operative access to a purulent focus can be either intraoral or extraoral. The incision is made from the side of the oral cavity, parallel to the inner surface of the lower jaw. Its length should be 3 cm. Only the mucous membrane of the floor of the mouth is cut with a scalpel, and it is penetrated deeper in a blunt way to avoid damage to the lingual artery. They penetrate the purulent focus, bluntly exfoliating the underlying soft tissue. In case of a diffuse purulent-inflammatory process, an incision is made in the submandibular region with dissection of part of the fibers of the mylohyoid muscle, and drainage of the purulent wound is carried out with active double tubular drainage.

The peripharyngeal space (spatium parapharyngeum) is an almost isolated space (Fig.), limited on the inside by the lateral wall of the pharynx, in front by the ascending part of the mandible and the internal pterygoid muscle, behind by the prevertebral fascia, outside by the deep layer of the parotid fascia.

Along this space runs the internal carotid artery (a. carotis int.), the hypoglossal, vagus, glossopharyngeal, accessory nerves (nn. hypoglossus, vagus, glossopharyngeus, accessorius), to which the internal jugular vein (v. jugularis) adjoins on the inside int.). Through a hole in the deep layer of the fascia of the parotid gland, the peripharyngeal space communicates with the internal part of the bed of this gland. The peripharyngeal space is connected with the retropharyngeal space (see). Downwards, the O. p. passes into the median fissure of the neck, located under the body of the hyoid bone between the middle and superficial fascia of the neck on one side and the deep fascia of the neck on the other. At the upper aperture of the chest, the median fissure of the neck passes into the mediastinum.

Acute inflammatory processes in the peripharyngeal space often occur as an abscess or phlegmon. They can arise as a result of penetration of a virulent infection by tonsillogenic, odontogenic, otogenic and from the parotid gland.

With the development of a peripharyngeal abscess, the patient’s general condition suffers sharply: high temperature, sometimes chills, leukocytosis increases and ROE accelerates. As a result of the inflammatory process in the internal pterygoid muscle, prolonged trismus of the lower jaw can develop. When examining the pharynx, enlargement and protrusion of the tonsil or areas of the lateral wall of the pharynx and swelling of the soft palate are visible. Along with the enlargement and pain of the regional lymph nodes, a diffuse, very dense and painful swelling appears in the area of ​​the angle of the lower jaw and along its edge, sometimes spreading to the parotid gland. With an odontogenic peripharyngeal abscess, inflammatory changes in the area of ​​the posterior sections of the alveolar processes of the lower jaw come first.

Treatment is surgical with the simultaneous use of antibiotics and sulfonamides. First of all, it is necessary to eliminate the focus (tonsillectomy for peritonsillar abscess, tooth extraction, trepanation of the mastoid process, etc.), and then open the peripharyngeal abscess. When the patient’s condition is very serious, sometimes it is necessary to first open the abscess. In more complex cases, a peripharyngeal abscess or phlegmon is opened through the neck. To do this, an incision is made along the anterior edge of the sternocleidomastial muscle along its upper third, starting 1 cm above the angle of the lower jaw. The digastric and stylohyoid muscles running together are looked for; the latter are pulled downwards. Using a blunt instrument, or preferably an index finger, they penetrate above these muscles into the loose tissue of the anterior part of the peripharyngeal space, keeping the direction upward and somewhat anteriorly, open the abscess and then pack the wound or insert rubber drainage into it; several close sutures are applied.

Phlegmon of the floor of the mouth is understood as diffuse purulent inflammation of the tissues located above and below the so-called muscular diaphragm of the floor of the mouth. Essentially it is a phlegmon of the sublingual and submandibular areas^

Reasons for the formation of an abscess on the tongue

Most often, the formation of a purulent focus on the body and the root of the tongue in particular becomes a consequence of mechanical or thermal effects. Damage opens a direct path for the penetration and spread of bacterial infection. As practice shows, the formation of an abscess is often preceded by injury to the mucous membrane with sharp fish bones.

“In my case, the abscess was generally the result of my passion for dried vobla! Once again I accidentally scratched the edges of my tongue, then it turned red, began to hurt, and one fine morning I discovered a small abscess on it. I was scared, of course, and immediately made an appointment with a doctor. Fortunately, everything worked out without surgical intervention. The doctor prescribed rinsing with chlorhexidine.”

Anna Semenova, 43 years old, Omsk, from correspondence on the forum www.32top.ru

Quite often, the oral mucosa is injured by sharp edges of teeth or crowns, as well as worn-out prosthetic structures and incorrectly adjusted orthodontic devices for correcting the bite. Patients suffering from periodontitis, ulcerative stomatitis, and acute tonsillitis are also at risk. In this case, pathogenic bacteria can spread from the source of chronic infection in the oral cavity. Thus, to date, experts in the field of dentistry have identified the following main reasons for the development of pathology:

• penetration of infection, staphylococci and streptococci,
• trauma to the mucous membrane,
• imbalance of oral microflora,
• dental diseases,
• glossitis,
• stomatitis,
• tonsillitis.

Trauma to the tongue can cause an abscess.
It should also be noted that quite often an abscess develops after a burn as a result of consuming too hot food or drinks. Infection can also appear through fresh scratches from hard foods or sores caused by eating spicy or salty foods.

Characteristic symptoms

The pathology is characterized by a fairly rapid pace of development. Based on where exactly the neoplasm is localized, experts distinguish between deep and superficial forms of abscess. Let's look at each of them in more detail.

Surface view

In this case, an abscess occurs on the back of the organ. The person experiences acute pain during swallowing, which often radiates to the ear. As part of a visual examination, noticeable swelling of the mucous membrane can be detected; when touched, a compaction can be clearly felt. Such an abscess can open without outside help, but in any case professional treatment is necessary.

Deep view

This is a more dangerous form of pathology, in which purulent processes develop in the thickness of the tissues of the organ. Experts include the following conditions as associated symptoms:

• general weakness,
• poor appetite
• restless sleep due to constant painful sensations,
• tachycardia,
• heat,
• enlarged lymph nodes,
• increased salivation,
• severe swelling of the organ, acute pain,
• blue mucous membranes, formation of gray plaque,
• the appearance of bad breath.

The main danger is that when an abscess develops, the tongue greatly increases in size. As a result, problems arise not only with speech, but also with breathing.

How is diagnostics carried out?

At the first appointment, the doctor is obliged to ask the patient about all the symptoms that worry him. He also needs to find out the circumstances under which the mucous membrane was injured. Next, the specialist sends the patient for blood tests, since the formation of an abscess usually causes a significant increase in the level of leukocytes and ESR.

For diagnosis, a blood test is required.

In order to identify the pathogen, bacterial culture is performed. The patient may also be referred for an X-ray examination, which will help detect the source of the infection, especially if there are complications. Competent diagnosis makes it possible to distinguish between diseases such as tongue abscess and Ludwig's tonsillitis, lymph node abscess, lymphadenitis.

Cellulitis and abscesses of the maxillofacial zone: insidious complications

Go back I would immediately like to warn the reader against the desire to make a diagnosis “with one’s own hand.” Even if it seems to you that all the symptoms are the same, there is not a single reason to think that you or your loved one have an abscess, but there is not a single argument to put off going to the doctor, because where inflammation is involved , the beloved “maybe it will pass” by all of us acquires unsafe features. But if the patient is in the hands of an experienced doctor, most likely everything will end well. First, a few words about what an abscess and phlegmon of the facial part are and how they differ.

Cellulitis (spread purulent formation) can develop as a result of an acute inflammatory process in any part of the body. According to the location, the maxillofacial and cervical spine are in first place for the formation of purulent foci. In recent years, there has been an unfavorable tendency towards the complication and severity of such inflammatory processes. Mediastinitis, thrombosis of the facial veins, cerebral sinuses, sepsis - these can be the consequences of advanced inflammation.

An abscess is distinguished from phlegmon in the following way: the abscess is separated by a pyogenic membrane - the inner wall of the abscess, it is lined with granulation tissue. The membrane helps to differentiate the purulent process from adjacent tissues and produces exudate. The granulation barrier is a manifestation of the body’s normal protective reaction. In the tissues of the maxillofacial region, the membrane is usually thin and cannot always be clearly seen in the image.

Abscesses and phlegmons of the maxillofacial region are classified according to the source of infection:

• Odontogenic – those caused by gangrenous teeth and their roots;
• Intraosal – resulting from osteomyelitis, periostitis, sinusitis, cyst formation, complicated problematic eruption of “late” teeth;
• Gingival – consequences of periodontitis, gingivitis;
• Rhinogenic, otogenic - the organs of the nasopharynx or ear are involved in inflammation.

Clinical manifestations

At the beginning of the disease, you may notice swelling of the inflamed area and slight redness. Pain on palpation increases in proportion to the intensification of the inflammatory process. If the purulent-inflammatory process is located in the deep layers of the facial zone, then inflamed skin may not be observed. Clinical symptoms will be moderate and in the case of low-grade inflammation. This feature is characteristic only of abscesses. Unlike an abscess, phlegmon does not have a membrane. A diffuse purulent formation has the same clinical manifestations, but their severity is much more intense. The inflamed area of ​​the skin is hyperemic, painful, and the patient experiences a general increase in body temperature. This is due to a painful dense diffuse infiltrate. As a rule, there are complications with the function of swallowing and chewing. If the occurrence of an abscess or phlegmon of the oral cavity is preceded by microbial sensitization of the body to staphylococcus, streptococcus, E. coli and other microorganisms, then the development of inflammation occurs at a rapid pace and is characterized by aggressiveness. Differential diagnosis in this case will be complicated. The clinical picture is high levels of ESR, leukocytes, anemia, neutrophil shift to the left.

Manifestations of abscess and phlegmon of the facial part caused by anaerobic infections are severe even in the case of sufficient drainage. An unsafe complication of such diseases is septic shock. And here everything depends on the timeliness of the treatment started.

Treatment

In acute inflammatory processes accompanying such a serious disease as an abscess or phlegmon of the maxillofacial area, it is very important to choose the right treatment in time, which will be determined by many factors. This is a complex of serious, irreplaceable procedures of a local and general nature.

Among the main treatment methods:

• Surgery and opening of the abscess, removal of the source of infection, drainage and rinsing with antiseptic solutions;
• Antibiotic therapy. The antibiotic is selected by the doctor only after studying the nature of the inflammation and testing the sensitivity of the infection to the antibiotic; the possible presence of an allergy to a particular antibiotic is also taken into account;
• Immuno-stimulating drugs are especially important in cases where antibiotic therapy is not sufficiently effective, such as for serous formations caused by anaerobic infection;
• Detoxification therapy;
• Physiotherapy (more often used in the last, postoperative phase of treatment) with the use of medications.

Treatment of such inflammations is long and not always pleasant. Nowadays, the range of high-quality drugs used in purulent surgery is quite wide. Only comprehensive and timely treatment gives maximum effect in cases of complications such as phlegmon and abscess.

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Possible complications

The pathological condition under consideration, especially if the formation of an abscess occurs at the very root of the organ, is fraught with serious consequences for the entire organism as a whole. If treatment is not started in time, the abscess may well result in serious complications. Thus, in advanced stages it is often accompanied by purulent inflammation of the tissue - the formation of phlegmon, the occurrence of sepsis and severe intoxication of the body, and this, in turn, can lead to death.

Treatment of tongue abscess

Conservative therapy involves taking antibiotics and rinsing with antiseptic agents, such as Furacilin or Chlorhexidine. However, such treatment can be effective only at the earliest stage of pathology development. If the situation is advanced, immediate surgical intervention will most likely be required. The dentist will perform an emergency opening of the abscess, thereby preventing further spread of the infection. If a purulent neoplasm has formed deep at the base of the organ, the doctor may perform an autopsy from the outside under the chin. After removing purulent discharge, the specialist will thoroughly rinse the cavity using antibiotics and proteolytic enzymes1.

In some cases, surgery is performed to remove the pus.

In the most advanced cases, when the patient is already experiencing serious breathing difficulties, a tracheotomy is performed. The patient is prescribed antibiotics, anti-inflammatory drugs and antihistamines. To strengthen the body's defenses, it is recommended to take multivitamin complexes and regularly rinse the mouth with antiseptics, including decoctions of medicinal herbs - chamomile and sage. It is important to understand here that the use of any pharmaceutical drugs and traditional medicine must be agreed upon with the attending physician.

Treatment

To get a complete picture of the disease, dentists use modern diagnostic methods, on the basis of which they select the optimal solution to this problem. These include radiography, ultrasound, sampling of purulent mass and their analysis, visual examination of the condition of the pharynx (pharyngoscopy). Based on the results obtained and studying the history of the disease, appropriate therapy will be prescribed.

Before visiting a doctor, you can alleviate your condition a little by taking painkillers and warm antiseptic solutions, but you should not put off visiting the dentist for long, because the process develops very quickly and does not go away on its own.

Treatment of an oral abscess is usually carried out using two methods:

1. Surgical intervention Allows you to avoid most of the complications that may arise from an unauthorized breakthrough of a purulent sac. The operation is performed under local anesthesia by a dental surgeon, with the help of special instruments the abscess is opened, the wound is cleaned and drainage is placed, after the operation antibiotics, antihistamines, vitamins and immunomodulators are prescribed;
2. Medication Medications (Fluocinonide gel, Chlorhexidine solution, Ibuprofen) are prescribed only in the initial stage; timely consultation with a doctor and timely prescribed medications help avoid surgical intervention.

When the pus comes out, relief comes: there is no more pain, the temperature returns to normal, and the swelling disappears. The course of treatment ends with the necessary physical procedures: electropharesis with the addition of an antiseptic on the gums, UHF heating, and the procedure for silvering teeth affected by caries. Until the wound in the mouth completely heals, the patient must abandon hard vegetables and fruits in favor of soft cereals and liquid soups.

Prognosis and prevention

The success of treatment largely depends on how deeply the infection has spread and how quickly the person receives medical care. If an abscess is diagnosed in a timely manner, the likelihood of a favorable outcome will be at the highest level - the disease can be cured in just a couple of weeks. If the problem is neglected, the situation may result in the development of phlegmon and sepsis. To prevent the appearance of an abscess on the tongue, including relapses, it is enough to follow the recommendations of doctors:

• pay close attention to oral hygiene, brush your teeth and tongue twice a day,
• minimize the consumption of too spicy and salty foods,
• take care of the condition of the oral cavity, try not to injure the mucous membrane with foreign objects,
• in case of accidental damage, you should thoroughly rinse your mouth with water and an antiseptic solution, and also, just in case, consult a specialist to eliminate the risk of infection of the wound,
• strengthen the immune system - a healthy lifestyle, frequent walks in the fresh air, sports and proper nutrition,
• systematically visit the dentist for preventative care.

Preventive examinations with a dentist will help you avoid problems.
If you detect any suspicious changes in the condition or appearance of the oral cavity, you should definitely consult a doctor for advice. It is better to waste your time and go to a specialist than to undergo long and grueling treatment.

Prevention

In general, the effectiveness of treatment depends on at what stage of the disease the patient sought medical help and his general health. It is very important to follow all doctor’s orders and treatment procedures immediately after they are prescribed. A timely surgical operation and the absence of complications after it are a guarantee of healing the abscess within one to two weeks.

Preventive measures to prevent this disease are very simple:

• Maintain hygiene, which includes high-quality and proper care of teeth and gums (brushing teeth and tongue at least twice a day, cleaning interdental spaces with dental floss after meals, regular use of mouth rinses);
• Treat carious teeth and other oral diseases in a timely manner;
• Protect the jaws and oral mucosa from injury;
• Have a complete diet, including vitamins and vital microelements.

Simple tips, the implementation of which depends only on your desire, will help in the future to avoid serious consequences caused by an abscess. And remember: oral health directly affects the beauty and charm of your smile.

Home remedies

To speed up the wound healing process after treatment, you can resort to proven home methods. Here it should immediately be noted that their use is justified only if the attending physician has given his consent. Here are some reliable tips:

• rinsing with a light saline solution at the rate of 2 teaspoons per glass of water at room temperature,
• treating wounds with a solution of hydrogen peroxide or Chlorhexidine,
• applying a piece of ice to relieve acute inflammation.

Tongue abscess is a disease that is inevitably accompanied by very unpleasant symptoms. A general deterioration in health, high temperature, pain, problems with speech and breathing are only a small part of what the development of such a serious and dangerous phenomenon in an advanced stage entails. To prevent the situation from worsening, consult a doctor immediately when the first signs of pathology appear.

1. Vernadsky Yu.I. Fundamentals of maxillofacial surgery and surgical dentistry, 2003.