Idiopathic submandibular abscesses in children.

Idiopathic submandibular abscesses are often observed in young children and the report concerns 31 children treated over a period of 3 years. Their origin is unknown. As all these abscesses were lymph node abscesses in the submandibular region, it is assumed that they are due to minor oral and nasal cavity traumatic lesions secondarily infected. Antibiotic treatment and surgical drainage resulted in quick resolution and recurrences were never observed.