Actinomycosis (also known as Rivalta disease, big jaw, clams, lumpy jaw or wooden tongue) is an infection, commonly of the face and neck, that produces abscesses and open-draining sinuses. Actinomycosis is an infection primarily caused by the bacterium Actinomyces israelii . It is characterized by a dry ulceration with central necrosis, surrounded by a gutter of demarcation, usually accompanied by iritis and hypopyon. In severe cases, descemetocele and perforation may occur.

Acinomyces species form part of the normal microbial flora of the mouth and female genital tract ?Acinomyces israelii is Gram Positive bacilli non motile,non sporing and the morphologically resemble the thin branches. ?Facultative anaerobes that causes pelvic actinomycosis  ?Usually infection occurs at human with IUCD , ?Foreign body ,vaginal pessaries ,surgical clumps and ?forgotten tampons associated with actinomycosis usually. ?Acinomyces israelii causes actinomycosis a chronic granulamataus

Treatment for actinomycosis is usually a series of antibiotics, most commonly penicillin. These are injected at first and followed up with oral antibiotics. If the infection is severe, the treatment may last for up to 12 months.

Actinomycosis has been reported around the world. Although there is little accurate prevalence data in the literature, the incidence of all forms of actinomycosis appears to have declined markedly in the last three to four decades 12. The pulmonary form of actinomycosis constitutes ~15% of the total burden of disease, although estimates of up to 50% have been reported 12–15. It is now a rare infection, particularly in the developed world.

Surgical drainage of the lesion may be required. The objective of therapy is to control the infection, but response is slow. Prolonged therapy with penicillin or a substitute is necessary to ensure a cure.

Surgical treatment may include incision and drainage of abscesses.
To treat Actinomycosis doctor prescribes antibiotics like tetracycline.

Nocardiosis is an aerobic actinomycosis, prevalent mostly in the tropics and subtropics. Nocardia is present in the soil; so the infection is exogenous since it is introduced into the tissues from the outside of the body by injury. N. brasiliensis is one of the causative agents of mycetoma of the foot.