Actinomycosis is a bacterial infection that is caused by anaerobic bacteria of Actinomyces species. This is also called Rivalta disease, big jaw, clamps, lumpy jaw, or wooden tongue. Such bacteria can be found on the enamel of the teeth, gums, tonsils, and the membranes lining the intestines and the vagina. Infection of these bacteria can be characterized by the presence of a red lump that is slowly developing. The bacteria are given the opportunity to infect the tissue if it is broken and it can be able to go through. This is a rare condition that can be found in human but this infection is not contagious. This is much common on animals like cattle, swine, horses, and dogs.

This is often recognized as the formation of painful abscesses in the mouth, lungs, and gastrointestinal tract. The abscesses are slowly developing over months. This should be given attention as this can also result into abscess that can penetrate the surrounding bone where they can result to a large amount of pus.

Common causes of actinomycosis in human are because of poor oral hygiene, radiation therapy, periodontal disease or any incidence that results to tissue damage. It can somehow be prevented with good oral hygiene. This kind of infection will occur if there is a group of bacteria which are gram positive, gram negative, and cocci.

The treatment that is best for this condition is penicillin since Actinomyces bacteria are sensitive to this. But if the patient is allergic with the use of penicillin, doxycyclin can be an alternative. Penicillin medication is a therapy and it may take sometime before the result can be noticed. Antibiotic treatment for Actinomycosis may take several months to a year. Cure rates are indeed high because of greatly improved antibiotics. There are cases where in surgical drainage or the removal of the lesion may be recommended.