Alsop’s skin appeared to be burning from the inside out, leading one anaesthetist to suspect Ludwig’s angina, a life-threatening condition involving severe infection in the mouth and neck.
A CT scan eventually revealed the source of Alsop’s life-threatening condition was an impacted and infected wisdom tooth.
“I had no pain, no symptoms, and this nearly killed me overnight. It’s absolutely crazy,” Alsop said.
Emergency surgery was performed to remove the tooth, and additional procedures were required to relieve pressure on her jugular vein.
Alsop was placed in a medically induced coma for nine days.
It wasn’t until a year later that Alsop fully understood how close she came to death. Her infection had progressed to sepsis, a severe and often fatal response to infection that can cause tissue and organ damage.
