OBJECTIVE: To clarify the presenting signs and symptoms, clinical course, pathogenic organisms, and management of deep-neck-space abscesses in infants. DESIGN: Retrospective chart review. SETTING: Tertiary care academic children's hospital. PATIENTS: Records of 25 patients 9 months or younger with deep-neck-space abscesses from July 1989 through May 1999 were reviewed. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Resolution of abscess. RESULTS: Presenting symptoms included neck mass, 92% (n = 23); fever, 60% (n = 15); and dysphagia and/or poor intake by mouth, 36% (n = 9). Overall, patients were symptomatic for a mean duration of 3.8 days before presenting to the hospital; 21 of 22 evaluated patients had elevated white blood cell counts. Imaging included 68% computed tomographic scan (n = 17) and 44% plain radiographs (n = 11). On the basis of radiology and operative findings, locations of the abscesses were as follows: anterior triangle, 8; parapharyngeal, 5; posterior triangle, retropharyngeal, and undefined, 3 each; submandibular, 2; and parotid, 1. Of 17 scanned patients, 13 had some degree of airway compromise evident on computed tomography. All were treated with incision and drainage, 3 of 25 intraorally and 22 of 25 externally. Pus was identified in all 25; 20 of these grew Staphylococcus aureus, 1 grew group A Streptococcus, and 4 grew no organism. All patients received intravenous antibiotics for a mean of 4.8 days and oral antibiotics for a mean of 11 days. Only 1 patient required a second procedure. CONCLUSIONS: Deep-neck-space abscesses in infants are rapidly progressive, often cause airway compromise, and usually present with fever and neck mass. The most common pathogen is S aureus. Patients are effectively treated with incision and drainage coupled with intravenous followed by oral antibiotics.
OBJECTIVE: To clarify the presenting signs and symptoms, clinical course, pathogenic organisms, and management of deep-neck-space abscesses in infants. DESIGN: Retrospective chart review. SETTING: Tertiary care academic children's hospital. PATIENTS: Records of 25 patients 9 months or younger with deep-neck-space abscesses from July 1989 through May 1999 were reviewed. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Resolution of abscess. RESULTS: Presenting symptoms included neck mass, 92% (n = 23); fever, 60% (n = 15); and dysphagia and/or poor intake by mouth, 36% (n = 9). Overall, patients were symptomatic for a mean duration of 3.8 days before presenting to the hospital; 21 of 22 evaluated patients had elevated white blood cell counts. Imaging included 68% computed tomographic scan (n = 17) and 44% plain radiographs (n = 11). On the basis of radiology and operative findings, locations of the abscesses were as follows: anterior triangle, 8; parapharyngeal, 5; posterior triangle, retropharyngeal, and undefined, 3 each; submandibular, 2; and parotid, 1. Of 17 scanned patients, 13 had some degree of airway compromise evident on computed tomography. All were treated with incision and drainage, 3 of 25 intraorally and 22 of 25 externally. Pus was identified in all 25; 20 of these grew Staphylococcus aureus, 1 grew group A Streptococcus, and 4 grew no organism. All patients received intravenous antibiotics for a mean of 4.8 days and oral antibiotics for a mean of 11 days. Only 1 patient required a second procedure. CONCLUSIONS: Deep-neck-space abscesses in infants are rapidly progressive, often cause airway compromise, and usually present with fever and neck mass. The most common pathogen is S aureus. Patients are effectively treated with incision and drainage coupled with intravenous followed by oral antibiotics.
Authors: Alberto Maria Saibene; Fabiana Allevi; Tareck Ayad; Jérome R Lechien; Miguel Mayo-Yáñez; Krzysztof Piersiala; Carlos M Chiesa-Estomba Journal: Acta Otorhinolaryngol Ital Date: 2022-04 Impact factor: 2.618
Authors: Susanna Esposito; Claudia De Guido; Marco Pappalardo; Serena Laudisio; Giuseppe Meccariello; Gaia Capoferri; Sofia Rahman; Claudio Vicini; Nicola Principi Journal: Children (Basel) Date: 2022-04-26
Authors: Alexandre Babá Suehara; Antonio José Gonçalves; Fernando Antonio Maria Claret Alcadipani; Norberto Kodi Kavabata; Marcelo Benedito Menezes Journal: Braz J Otorhinolaryngol Date: 2008 Mar-Apr