A 40-year-old man fast-food deliveryman presented to the emergency department with a severe sore throat and trismus. His-symptoms rapidly escalated over 24 h, impairing his ability to speak, eat, and drink. He had a fever of 37.4 °C, but no history of a cold, trauma, or recent dental work. Examination revealed trismus and limited neck movement, exacerbating by turning the head to the left, which hampered oropharyngeal examination. Laboratory tests revealed an elevated white blood cell count. The differential diagnosis included epiglottitis, peritonsillar abscess, Lemierre syndrome, and internal carotid artery dissection.
