Retropharyngeal abscess as an example of a deep neck infection in children

Abstract

Deep neck infections are severe complications of the inflammatory processes in the upper respiratory tract. They can be divided into retropharyngeal, parapharyngeal, peritonsillar and submandibular abscesses, depending on the affected region. Deep neck infections are considered as acute bacterial complications with a progressive course and life-threatening character and that’s why they require immediate wide-range, intravenous antibiotic therapy. A 7-year-old female patient presented to her general practitioner with persistent, recurrent fever lasting for 3 days. Fever subsided after 2 days of antibiotic therapy, but she developed trismus, severe sore throat, especially on the right side, radiating to the right ear and dysphagia. The patient was referred to the Pediatric Otolaryngology Department as a matter of urgency. On examination she had enlarged lymph nodes on the right side of the neck with limited head and neck movements to the right side and posteriorly. There was also an asymmetry of the pharynx behind the right palatopharyngeal arch observed. Laboratory blood tests showed high CRP level (3.84 mg/dl, n < 0.5). CT scan was performed and showed multiloculated abscess in right retropharyngeal space. Our patient was qualified for the surgical procedure – drainage of the abscess under general anaesthesia together with wide spectrum antibiotic therapy in a form of cefuroxime and clindamycin. During procedure a large amount of pus was evacuated, and a sample was sent for microbiological results. It showed growth of Staphylococcus hominis, probably multiplication of local physiological colonization. She also received anti-inflammatory drugs and has had physiotherapy throughout the hospitalization period to prevent torticollis. We observed gradual local and general improvement, together with normalization of the inflammatory markers. She was discharged from the hospital after 7 days of intravenous treatment. Accurate diagnosis and immediate proper treatment of deep neck infections are essential in prevention of further local (to the surrounding regions) and general expansion (like thrombosis, sepsis, meningitis) of the inflammatory process and of persistent changes (like stenosis of the respiratory tract). Fortunately, in the post-antibiotic era most patients are fully healed, further complications are almost unseen and mortality rates are low.