Ludwig's angina in the pediatric population.

As many as 1 in 3 of cases of Ludwig's angina occur in children and adolescents, and pediatricians are therefore ideally situated to detect these individuals at an early stage of their potentially life-threatening disease. The early identification and referral of children afflicted with Ludwig's angina to tertiary care centers allows for the rapid initiation of medical therapy and the consultation of those emergency services critical to providing such patients with optimal diagnostic and therapeutic interventions. This review provides an overview of the anatomical and pathophysiological considerations in Ludwig's angina and describes practical management principles to assist pediatricians in the diagnosis and treatment of this disease. Included in this review is an evidence-based algorithm for airway management.