Ann Pediatr Res | Volume 3, Issue 3 | Research Article | Open Access

Retropharyngeal Abscess in Children: A Retrospective Study

Poonit ND1#, Zhou YY1,3#, Xu DF1, Qiu XH1, Chen YF1, Li ZJ1 , Yu CY1, Mei HF4,5, Ni LY2* and Cai XH1*

1Department of Pediatrics, The Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children's Hospital, PR China 2Department of Otorhinolaryngology, The Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children's Hospital, PR China 3Department of Pediatrics, People’s Hospital of Zhengzhou, PR China 4Department of Neonatology, Children’s Hospital of Fudan University, PR China 5Department of Pediatrics, The Children’s Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine, PR China # These authors contributed equally to this work

*Correspondance to: Xiaohong Cai 

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Abstract

Objectives: To enhance the clinician’s awareness of Retropharyngeal Abscess (RPA) by discussing the clinical characteristics and different management approach in the diagnosis of retropharyngeal abscess. Methods: A retrospective review was conducted on patients diagnosed with RPA during the period April 1999 to May 2016. Their demographics, presentations, radiology, etiology, bacteriology, hospital stay, complications, reasons for misdiagnosis and treatment were analyzed and evaluated. Results: A total of 34 children were admitted from April 1999 to May 2016. The majority of the children were below 3 years old (66.7%), and the misdiagnosis rate was up to 61.8%. The presenting symptoms included sore throat, neck stiffness, fever, odynophagia, neck swelling, stridor, hoarseness, new-onset snoring and dyspnea. Three-dimensional computed tomographic scan was preferred for radiological diagnosis. Staphylococcus aureus was the most common organism found on culture (61%). Early surgical drainage, combined with systemic antibiotics treatment was the main effective method. Conclusion: Three dimensional CT scan was the examination of choice for the diagnosis of retropharyngeal abscess. Conservative treatment should be followed-up by imaging in the absence of improvement within 24 h to 48 h. Antibiotics chosen should cover the most common pathogens causing RPA. It is easily misdiagnosed; therefore it is essential to increase awareness of practitioners for a prompt diagnosis and management.

Keywords:

Retropharyngeal abscess; Children; Neck CT scan

Citation:

Poonit ND, Zhou YY, Xu DF, Qiu XH, Chen YF, Li ZJ, et al. Retropharyngeal Abscess in Children: A Retrospective Study. Ann Pediatr Res. 2019;3(3):1027.

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