College Athlete Dies of Rare Bacterial Illness Called 'Forgotten Disease'
By Rachael Rettner, Senior Writer | November 3, 2018 10:21am ET
A college student-athlete in Kansas died suddenly from a rare bacterial infection after thinking her symptoms were due to tonsillitis, according to news reports.
The 23-year-old, Samantha Scott, was a top coxswain on the rowing team at Kansas State University, according to a statement from the university. But about two weeks ago, she started to feel unwell.
Initially, it was thought that Scott had tonsillitis, or inflammation of the tonsils, according to local news outlet KDVR. Tonsillitis can cause symptoms such as sore throat, fever and pain when swallowing. But Scott had actually developed an illness called Lemierre syndrome, a condition that's so rare it was referred to as "all-but-forgotten disease" in a 2006 report of a similar case. [27 Oddest Medical Cases]
Lemierre syndrome is a bacterial infection that begins in the throat and causes symptoms such as sore throat and fever, followed by swelling of one of the jugular veins in the neck, according to National Institutes of Health's Genetic and Rare Diseases Information Center (GARD). Later, pus-filled tissue moves from the throat to various organs, including the lungs.
More:
https://www.livescience.com/64004-college-student-dies-lemierre-syndrome.html
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RIP and condolences and best wishes to her family and friends. 
