Share This Article
‘Symptoms of DNM and how to overcome them’, are these keywords what you have been searching for recently on digital information search engines? If yes, you may not be alone. Many people suddenly found out what DNM was after a netizen’s viral post on one of the social media platforms.
It is the @TrinityTraveler account that posts information which it claims is a true story, aka a true story regarding a friend who died with a doctor’s diagnosis of descending necrotizing mediastinitis (DNM).
In the post, which has been viewed 1.4 million times, the uploader said that initially his friend suffered from toothache due to a gap in his molar tooth. However, at that time he was not immediately taken to the doctor for treatment. Instead, just take painkillers and gargle with mouthwash.
Instead of getting better, his cheeks swelled and his neck also swelled, because he didn’t seek medical treatment. Unfortunately, when the doctor treated him, the patient’s condition was so serious that he was unconscious. After receiving treatment for a month in the ICU, the patient died.
So what are the symptoms of DNM and how to deal with them? Find the answer in the complete explanation below.
What does descending necrotizing mediastinitis look like and its causes?
Descending necrotizing mediastinitis is a serious infection of the connective tissue of the mediastinum (part of the chest cavity). This is the most aggressive form of mediastinitis. This infection causes inflammation of the mediastinum (mediastinitis), which contains vital organs such as the heart, large blood vessels, trachea, bronchi, esophagus, phrenic nerve, vagus nerve and thoracic duct.
In most cases, namely 60-80 percent, mediastinal inflammation is caused by exposure to Staphylococcus Aureus and Coagulase-Negative Staphylococcus bacteria.
DNM is actually a rare disease, but has a fairly high mortality rate, namely around 40 percent. However, now the figure has decreased to around 17.5 percent.
Oral Cavity Infections Linked as the Main Cause of DNM?
Not a single disease, on the contrary descending necrotizing mediastinitis is a serious complication of oropharyngeal or odontogenic infections. Namely an infection of the oral cavity caused by carious teeth (cavities) and periodontal disease (tooth support).
Initially, these infections originate from the head and neck, where they are mostly focused on the odontogenic or oropharyngeal (oral cavity) areas. Then it can quickly expand and descend to the mediastinum or chest area. Apart from that, DNM can also be triggered by soft tissue infections of the pharynx (throat area), sinusitis, or cervical spine trauma.
Research Proves Oral Cavity Infections Can Trigger Descending Necrotizing Mediastinitis
Research conducted by a number of hospitals in Spain studied the history of DNM in 29 patients who underwent treatment between 1988-2009. From several things studied, researchers found a link between oral cavity infections and DNM.
As a result, 12 patients with descending necrotizing mediastinitis turned out to have odontogenic infections, then the remaining 17 patients had pharyngeal infections.
Symptoms of DNM and How to Overcome Them
After knowing what DNM disease is, for fast and appropriate treatment you need to know what the symptoms of DNM are like and how to deal with them.
The following are the symptoms of DNM and how to deal with them:
Symptoms of DNM
- Throat pain
- Swelling and redness in the cheek/neck area
- Difficulty swallowing (dysphagia)
- Shortness of breath (dyspnea)
- Fever
- Headache and neck pain
- Hoarseness.
How to overcome DNM
Because it is a very serious type of infection and in some cases has a high mortality rate, ranging from 11-40 percent, it requires multimodal treatment and care (involving various methods and media). Treatment must also be carried out by health professionals because in some cases it involves surgery.
Most cases of descending necrotizing mediastinitis infection are found to be at an advanced stage. CT scans of the neck and chest are very necessary to reduce mortality and morbidity due to this disease.
According to research entitled ‘Multidisciplinary Approach in the Treatment of Descending Necrotizing Mediastinitis: Twenty-Year Single-Center Experience’, multidisciplinary care and treatment is needed between all parties involved (patients, health workers (doctors and nurses), and hospital management) , so that treatment progress can be achieved and the patient ultimately recovers.
How to Maintain Oral and Dental Hygiene
Because oral cavity infections have been proven to trigger descending necrotizing mediastinitis, maintaining oral and dental hygiene and health must be carried out.
Here are tips for maintaining oral hygiene:
Brush your teeth regularly. Photo source: https://www.oralcareexpert.com/
- Brush your teeth regularly, twice a day for two minutes
- Use a soft, small bristled brush so it can enter the tooth cavity
- Use an electric toothbrush to remove dental plaque. A study shows that brushing your teeth with an electric toothbrush is effective in cleaning plaque which causes tartar
- Use fluoride toothpaste to prevent tartar from forming and ultimately causing damage to tooth enamel
- Use a water flosser to clean tartar or tartar. A study shows that a water flosser can reduce tartar by 74 percent compared to using a manual toothbrush or dental floss
- Use mouthwash to kill bacteria
- Avoid overeating sweet foods
- Avoid smoking, because tobacco products can cause tartar to form
- Consume fresh fruit and vegetables to maintain your immune system.
That’s an explanation of the symptoms of DNM and how to deal with them. After reading the information above, are you still thinking about ignoring cavities? It is important to always maintain oral hygiene, which includes dental health, because the complications caused by the disease can be very fatal.
It’s also worth remembering that you cannot treat DNM yourself, seek medical help immediately so that treatment is not too late. You can consult via the Good Doctor application if you have dental health problems, including to avoid the risk of descending necrotizing mediastinitis. Click the link at here, Our trusted and experienced partner doctors are ready to help you 24/7.