Actinomycosis is a long-term (chronic) disease
caused by a germ that forms colonies whose
appearance closely resembles a fungus. In
fact, an actinomycosis colony looks so much
like a fungus that it wasn’t until the second
half of the twentieth century that doctors
realised it was in fact a collection of bacteria.
Its name means ‘sun-ray fungus’. The
disease actinomycosis is uncommon in Britain
but fairly common in some tropical countries.
It affects cattle more often than people,
but the germ causing it in cattle is usually
a different strain from the one causing
the disease in humans. However, the cattle
form can spread to humans.
Interestingly,
important antibiotics have been obtained
from some of the strains of the germs that
cause actinomycosis.
Symptoms
Actinomycosis
produces abscesses in the skin and deeper
parts of the body. These abscesses are not
completely walled off, and thin pus leaks through
narrow passages called sinuses onto
the surface of the skin.
The pus
contains yellow granules of the bacterial
colonies.
The abscesses
may involve the mouth, neck, chest or abdomen,
but are commonest around the jaw. For this
reason the condition is often called ‘lumpy
jaw’.
Causes
The germs
of actinomycosis are everywhere, including
in the human mouth. They cause no trouble
until they get through the skin or some
other body membrane.
They can
be spread by human or animal bites, and
there have been cases in people who have
punched someone else in the teeth. The disease
has also been reported in some women fitted
with an intrauterine contraceptive device
(IUD).
Treatment
The germ that causes actinomycosis is sensitive
to penicillin and other antibiotics. The
condition usually responds well to treatment,
though it may be necessary to continue treating
it for more than a year.
In some cases,
surgery may also be necessary to drain deep
abscesses and to remove the sinuses.
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Actinomycosis
