Increased incidence of head and neck abscesses in children

Abstract

To describe increasing incidence and changing microbiology of head and neck abscesses in children admitted to the hospital during the first quarters of 2000 through 2003. Retrospective data warehouse review identified 89 children less than 19 years of age admitted to a tertiary care pediatric hospital during the first quarters of 2000 through 2003 for suspicion of head and neck abscess involving the neck, face, and peritonsillar, retropharyngeal, and parapharyngeal spaces; and for orbital and intracranial complications of acute sinusitis. Outcome measures included the incidence of infection admissions and description of infection location and microbiology, calculated by chi2 technique. The incidence of infections increased in 2003. The greatest increase was in neck abscesses and complications of acute sinusitis. The increase in group A strep infections may be related to its biologic properties. Group A strep remains a significant cause of head and neck infections in children.