The Turkish Journal of Pediatrics
2014 , Vol 56 , Num 3
Deep Neck Infections in Children: Experience in a Tertiary Care Center in Turkey
Departments of 1Pediatric Infectious Diseases, and 2Pediatrics, Dr. Sami Ulus Maternity and Children’s Training and
Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey. E-mail: drozgemetin@gmail.com
The aim of this study was to elucidate the clinical presentations, diagnostic
clues and management of deep neck infections (DNI) in pediatric patients.
Demographic characteristics, clinical manifestations, predisposing factors,
duration of symptoms before presentation, history of previous antibiotic
use, duration of hospitalization, laboratory and radiographic evaluations,
management, complications, and outcomes of 25 patients (19 male/6
female; mean age: 47.9±39.0 months) diagnosed with DNI were analyzed
retrospectively. Retropharyngeal abscesses occurred especially in preschool
children, whereas peritonsillar abscesses occurred especially in school children.
Nine of 25 (36%) patients underwent surgical intervention in addition
to medical therapy. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography provided
additional information in half of the patients. DNIs should be considered
in the differential diagnosis of children who present with fever and neck
mass even in the absence of more specific findings. Medical treatment can
be considered an option to surgical treatment by utilizing the advantages of
imaging techniques and empirical antibiotics.
Keywords :
deep neck infection, pediatric, contrast-enhanced computed tomography.