Purpose : Retropharyngeal and parapharyngeal abscesses are often distinguishable from
other head and neck abscesses on clinical grounds, but these infections can combine and the
presentations are similar to one another. Because of the advances of antibiotic therapy, the
frequency of the diseases decreased considerably, but recently the incidence of neck abscesses
has increased. We sought to describe the clinical presentation of patients with deep
neck abscess, and implications on management.
Methods : For 10 year periods, 94 cases of charts were reviewed retrospectively, who
were diagnosed as neck abscesses aged below 16 years old(between January 1993 to August
2003) in 4 hospitals. Deep neck abscesses were diagnosed by surgical pus drainage, neck CT
(homogenous, hypodense area with ring enhancement) and neck sono findings.
Results : The annual incidence of deep neck abscess has been increased since 2000. The
median age of the patients was 4 years(range, 26 days∼15 years); 63% of the patients were
younger than 5 years. Abscesses in the submandibular space(34%) were most common, followed
by peritonsillar space(29.7%), retropharyngeal space(11.7%), combined(10.8%), parotid
space(7.4%) and parapharyngeal space(6.4%). Fever(73.4%), sore throat(37.2%), decreased oral
intake(34%) and neck pain(27.7%) were the most common symptoms. In 6 children(6.4%),
there was refusal to move neck, in 6(6.4%) headache, and in 4(4.3%) torticollis. Respiratory
distress was observed in only 1 patient(2.1%) and stridor in 1 other(2.1%). The most common
physical examinations were neck swelling/mass(67%), pharyngitis(46.8%), tonsillitis(36.2
%), and cervical lymphadenopathy(28.7%). Neck stiffness was observed in 4 patients(4.3%).
Total 35 organisms were isolated in 33 patients. The most common organisms cultured by
patients' blood or pus were S. aureus(34%) and S. pyogenes(28.6%). Most organisms were
gram positive, and had sensitivities in vancomycin(96.4%), cefotaxime(88.9%), cephalothin
(86.4%), trimethoprime-sulfamethoxazole(83.3%), and clindamycin(77.8%). 77 patients(81.9%)
underwent surgery plus antibiotics; 17 patients(18.1%) were treated with antibiotics only.
There is no significant differences between two groups. In duration of admission, fever after
admission, and antibiotic treatment.
Conclusion : The incidence of deep neck abscess has increased recently and the major
symptoms have been changed. The incidence of respiratory distress or stridor is decreasing,
while the incidence of abnormal head and neck symptoms and signs like headache, neck
stiffness, refusal to move neck, or torticollis are increasing. Gram positive organisms are
predominant, S. aureus is the most common followed by S. pyogenes. 1st generation cephalosporin
has high sensitivity on gram positive organisms. Treatment with surgery plus antibiotics
dose not significantly decrease total duration of antibiotic treatment or admission compared
to treatment with antibiotics alone.
Purpose : Retropharyngeal and parapharyngeal abscesses are often distinguishable from
other head and neck abscesses on clinical grounds, but these infections can combine and the
presentations are similar to one another. Because of the advances of antibiotic therapy, the
frequency of the diseases decreased considerably, but recently the incidence of neck abscesses
has increased. We sought to describe the clinical presentation of patients with deep
neck abscess, and implications on management.
Methods : For 10 year periods, 94 cases of charts were reviewed retrospectively, who
were diagnosed as neck abscesses aged below 16 years old(between January 1993 to August
2003) in 4 hospitals. Deep neck abscesses were diagnosed by surgical pus drainage, neck CT
(homogenous, hypodense area with ring enhancement) and neck sono findings.
Results : The annual incidence of deep neck abscess has been increased since 2000. The
median age of the patients was 4 years(range, 26 days∼15 years); 63% of the patients were
younger than 5 years. Abscesses in the submandibular space(34%) were most common, followed
by peritonsillar space(29.7%), retropharyngeal space(11.7%), combined(10.8%), parotid
space(7.4%) and parapharyngeal space(6.4%). Fever(73.4%), sore throat(37.2%), decreased oral
intake(34%) and neck pain(27.7%) were the most common symptoms. In 6 children(6.4%),
there was refusal to move neck, in 6(6.4%) headache, and in 4(4.3%) torticollis. Respiratory
distress was observed in only 1 patient(2.1%) and stridor in 1 other(2.1%). The most common
physical examinations were neck swelling/mass(67%), pharyngitis(46.8%), tonsillitis(36.2
%), and cervical lymphadenopathy(28.7%). Neck stiffness was observed in 4 patients(4.3%).
Total 35 organisms were isolated in 33 patients. The most common organisms cultured by
patients' blood or pus were S. aureus(34%) and S. pyogenes(28.6%). Most organisms were
gram positive, and had sensitivities in vancomycin(96.4%), cefotaxime(88.9%), cephalothin
(86.4%), trimethoprime-sulfamethoxazole(83.3%), and clindamycin(77.8%). 77 patients(81.9%)
underwent surgery plus antibiotics; 17 patients(18.1%) were treated with antibiotics only.
There is no significant differences between two groups. In duration of admission, fever after
admission, and antibiotic treatment.
Conclusion : The incidence of deep neck abscess has increased recently and the major
symptoms have been changed. The incidence of respiratory distress or stridor is decreasing,
while the incidence of abnormal head and neck symptoms and signs like headache, neck
stiffness, refusal to move neck, or torticollis are increasing. Gram positive organisms are
predominant, S. aureus is the most common followed by S. pyogenes. 1st generation cephalosporin
has high sensitivity on gram positive organisms. Treatment with surgery plus antibiotics
dose not significantly decrease total duration of antibiotic treatment or admission compared
to treatment with antibiotics alone.