TITLE:
Cervicofacial Cellulitis of Dental Origin: A Case Report of Serous Cellulitis
AUTHORS:
Nadia El Haiba, Houda Hdidi, Oumaima Fahim, Youssef Naji
KEYWORDS:
Cervicofacial Cellulitis, Odontogenic Infection, Antibiotic Therapy, Corticosteroids, Dental Emergency
JOURNAL NAME:
Journal of Biosciences and Medicines,
Vol.14 No.5,
May
7,
2026
ABSTRACT: Odontogenic cellulitis is a potentially life-threatening infection of the cervicofacial spaces when diagnosis is delayed or management is inappropriate. We report the case of a 36-year-old woman with no significant medical history, presenting as an emergency with serous cellulitis of the left buccal space secondary to pulp necrosis of tooth 24. The patient was afebrile at presentation (temperature 36.8˚C), with no systemic signs of severity, preserved upper airway patency, and adequate oral hydration, supporting outpatient management. Clinical management combined probabilistic antibiotic therapy (oral amoxicillin-clavulanate 1 g/125 mg every eight hours [total daily dose 3 g/375 mg] and metronidazole 500 mg every eight hours), a short course of adjuvant corticosteroid therapy (oral prednisone 1 mg/kg/day for 48 hours then tapered over five days) aimed at reducing inflammatory oedema and improving trismus, and extraction of the causative tooth under antibiotic cover at 48 hours. Complete clinical resolution was achieved within ten days. This case illustrates the importance of a combined therapeutic strategy, initiated without delay, integrating etiological surgical treatment, control of the inflammatory response, and rigorous clinical monitoring.