What is Actinomycosis?
Actinomycosis is Actinomycosis is a rare and potentially serious type of infectious bacterial disease. It can pass through damaged body tissues inside the body, a long-term infection that causes sores, or abscesses, in the body’s soft tissues. Actinomycosis is usually found in the:
- mouth
- nose
- throat
- lungs
- stomach
- intestines
Actinomycosis rarely appears elsewhere in the body. However, it can spread from the initial infected area to other parts of the body if illness or injury damages your tissue. Actinomycosis isn’t contagious. It’s primarily found in the tropical areas of the world.
Symptoms of Actinomycosis
If your mouth tissue is infected, it can cause what’s commonly known as “lumpy jaw.” A hard lump can be felt in the jaw. The lump itself isn’t typically painful. However, it can result in a painful skin abscess that first appears as a reddish bruise at the site. Actinomycosis can also cause muscle spasms in the jaw or a “locked jaw.” If this happens, the mouth cannot open in a normal way.
The other symptoms of actinomycosis are:
- a fever
- weight loss
- lumps on the neck or face
- draining sores on the skin
- excess sinus drainage
- coughing
- chest pain
Causes of Actinomycosis
Actinomycosis is a rare infection, especially in the United States. Since the infection spreads so slowly, actinomycosis was first thought to be a fungal infection. But a family of bacteria known as Actinomycetaceae causes it. The bacteria in this family include:
- Actinomyces israelii
- Actinomyces naeslundii
- Actinomyces viscosus
- Actinomyces odontolyticus
These bacteria naturally live in your body cavities like your nose and throat but don’t usually cause infection unless they can break through the protective lining of your body cavities.
Risk Factors for Actinomycosis
You have an increased risk of developing actinomycosis if you:
- have a damaged immune system from medications or another illness
- are malnourished
- neglect dental care after dental surgery or trauma to the mouth or jaw
One of the most common causes of actinomycosis is an oral or a dental abscess. If you’ve recently had an oral abscess, you should see your doctor right away. Women who’ve used an intrauterine device (IUD) for birth control are also considered at higher risk.
Actinomycosis Diagnoses
Actinomycosis is usually diagnosed through a fluid or tissue sample from the affected area. Your doctor uses a microscope to check the sample for Actinomyces bacteria. Any such bacteria appear as yellowish granules.
Actinomycosis Treatment
Antibiotics are the primary treatment for actinomycosis. High doses of penicillin are usually necessary to cure the infection. If you’re allergic to penicillin, your doctor can give you other antibiotics, such as:
- tetracycline
- clindamycin
- erythromycin
It can take up to a year for the antibiotics to completely cure the infection.
Any skin eruptions, or abscesses, from the infection may need to be drained or removed. If you developed actinomycosis due to the use of an IUD, the device should be removed to prevent further infection.
Notify your doctor immediately if you have the symptoms of actinomycosis. Early, aggressive treatment decreases your likelihood of developing long-term complications and requiring surgery.
Actinomycosis Complications
Actinomycosis starts in the soft tissues of the body, but it can infect any surrounding bone if it’s left untreated. Surgery may be necessary to remove any infected bone. If the infection resides in the nasal sinuses, surgery may be required to remove damaged bone and tissue.
In rare cases, actinomycosis in the nasal sinuses can reach the brain. This may lead to another serious type of infection called meningitis.
Actinomycosis Prevention
One of the best ways to prevent actinomycosis is to practice good oral hygiene. Schedule regular visits with your dentist so that they can spot potential problems. If you get proper treatment for actinomycosis, it’s highly curable and you’ll likely make a full recovery.