Fusobacterium
Fusobacterium is a type of bacteria that is normally found in the mouth. It usually does not cause any harm because it is kept under control by other types of bacteria in the mouth. However, when bacteria are imbalanced in the mouth, fusobacterium can multiply and cause infection. This can happen when a person has a cold or flu because the viruses that cause these conditions can also weaken the immune system.
Fusobacterium infection usually starts with a sore throat. The sore throat may last for a few days and then go away. However, in some cases, the infection spreads to the tonsils and causes them to become swollen and inflamed. The symptoms of tonsillitis caused by Fusobacterium include sore throat, difficulty swallowing, and swollen lymph nodes in the neck. Tonsillitis caused by fusobacterium is usually more severe than tonsillitis caused by a virus.
The appropriate treatment for tonsillitis caused by fusobacterium is a combination antibiotic therapy consisting of β-lactam, such as penicillin and cephalosporin, and an anaerobic antimicrobial agent like metronidazole and clindamycin. This combination therapy effectively treats the infection and reduces the risk of complications.
