A 41-year-old man in Hangzhou thought he was dealing with a simple toothache, but within days, his neck became so swollen and painful that he struggled to eat and breathe.
Doctors later discovered that he was suffering from a deep neck space infection that had developed into large abscesses, leaving his airway dangerously compressed.
The case was shared by Hangzhou Normal University Affiliated Hospital on its official WeChat account on September 18, with doctors warning that such infections can worsen rapidly and potentially cause suffocation if treatment is delayed.
The man, identified as Guo in Chinese media reports, reportedly worked long hours and frequently suffered from fatigue. He also had a history of diabetes and high blood pressure.
His symptoms initially began with a mild toothache, which he did not consider serious.
Several days later, however, his neck started hurting. What began as soreness and swelling gradually became worse, with increasing throat pain and difficulty breathing.
Guo eventually developed shortness of breath, struggled to speak clearly and found that he could barely breathe when lying down.
The swelling and pain in his throat also left him unable to eat properly for several days before he finally sought medical attention.
Blood tests showed his high-sensitivity C-reactive protein level had reached 338.9, indicating severe inflammation.
An ultrasound examination initially led doctors at a local hospital to suspect acute parotitis, but treatment failed to significantly improve his condition.
Deputy chief physician Xie Daoyu from the hospital’s Department of Otolaryngology later recognised that Guo’s condition was more serious and arranged for him to be admitted for further treatment.
Doctors diagnosed him with a deep neck space infection accompanied by extensive abscess formation.
The infection had caused significant swelling in the soft tissues of his neck, while the resulting abscesses compressed and deformed his epiglottis, leaving his throat severely narrowed.
Doctors warned that the airway obstruction meant he could potentially suffocate if his condition worsened.
After receiving high-dose steroid treatment, Guo was able to breathe somewhat more easily.
The following day, doctors performed an ultrasound-guided percutaneous drainage procedure to remove the accumulated pus and inserted two drainage bags into his neck.
Five days later, more than 550ml of fluid had been drained from the right side, while another 250ml had been drained from the left.
Following the drainage, Guo’s symptoms improved rapidly and his condition stabilised.
Doctors explained that deep neck space infections are a serious medical emergency and can commonly develop from dental infections such as tooth decay, periodontal disease and infections around the tooth root.
They can also arise from upper respiratory tract infections and inflammation around the tonsils.
According to doctors, an infection can spread from the teeth into the neck within just a few days. If swelling becomes severe enough to compress the airway, it can result in suffocation.
If the infection spreads beyond the connective tissue surrounding the neck, it may also cause serious complications including mediastinitis and sepsis, both of which can be life-threatening.
Doctors particularly identified people with diabetes as a high-risk group, while older adults, people with high blood pressure and those with weakened immune systems may also face increased risks.
Don’t Ignore These Warning Signs
Doctors urged people not to dismiss the following symptoms as ordinary “heatiness” or a simple sore throat, particularly when they develop after tooth pain:
- Neck swelling or pain after a toothache
- Difficulty swallowing or unclear speech
- Hoarseness or difficulty speaking
- Shortness of breath or a feeling of suffocation
- Breathing difficulties that worsen when lying down
- Red, hot or unusually soft/swollen areas on the neck
The case serves as a reminder that what appears to be a routine toothache can sometimes signal a much more serious infection.
When dental pain is accompanied by rapidly worsening neck swelling, difficulty swallowing or breathing problems, doctors say urgent medical attention is essential.
