Patient T.T.D (65 years old, Ho Chi Minh City) has had lower jaw pain for 1 month, bought medicine to take but it did not help, had a history of diabetes but did not take diabetes medicine regularly. After that, the patient's swelling gradually spread down to his chin, and he had difficulty breathing, so he went to the emergency room of People's Hospital 115.
Examination of the patient's mouth showed 47 large cavities and poor oral hygiene. After necessary tests and paraclinical examinations, the patient underwent emergency surgical surgery to drain the issuance of feces, used appropriate blood sugar regulation drugs, antibiotics, and post-operative care of the surgical wound. After a week, the patient was discharged from the hospital, could eat and drink, had no difficulty breathing, and had less pain.
Dr. Bui Thi Duc Hanh - Department of Dentistry - Eye, People's Hospital 115 said: "Because the majority of people with diabetes think that oral problems are not as important as problems related to other organs such as blood vessels, eyes, kidneys, nerves, hearing... While oral infections or soft tissue in the face on people with diabetes can lead to serious infections such as cellulitis or abscess, spreading to the cavities, tissues of the mouth, jaw, deep neck cavities, media, even sepsis and can threaten the patient's life".
According to Dr. Duc Hanh, the hospital regularly receives patients with serious illnesses and many complex diseases, including cellulitis or abscesses in people with diabetes. Many cases of cellulitis and abscesses in the mediastinal distance are diagnosed and treated promptly, bringing good outcomes to patients.
This shows that diabetic patients have specific characteristics that increase the risk of infection and severe infection as well as spread more widely than patients without diabetes. The initial problem is just common tooth pain, but the clinical progress can turn serious, causing difficulty breathing, sepsis or spreading to the chest neck, endangering life.
" Poor blood sugar control and adverse outcomes of maxillofacial infections can be life-threatening. Therefore, it is necessary to raise awareness of controlling blood sugar and screening for oral problems in people with diabetes, added Dr. Duc Hanh.
For people with diabetes, it is necessary to follow the instructions of an Endocrinologist on nutrition, diet, appropriate treatment, and regular oral check-ups every 6 months to help detect abnormalities or oral infections early for early treatment, avoid self-treatment at home, delay time, and spread infections that are difficult to control.
