cervicofacial actinomycosis
Last reviewed 01/2018
Orocervicofacial actinomycosis is the commonest form of the disease and is seen in about 50% of all reported Actinomycosis cases.
- occurs typically after dental extraction or tonsillitis or trauma to the mouth
- it may also arise spontaneously in patients with poor dental hygiene (1)
- although actinomyces do grow on grasses and decayed vegetable matter, these varieties are not pathogenic in man and infection does not occur, as was previously thought, by chewing contaminated straw; nor is this disease transmitted from cattle or horses to man.
Spread may occur by direct infiltration to the orbit, base of the skull, or mediastinum.
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