[Head and neck abscesses]

To review the clinical, microbiological and therapeutic characteristics of all head and neck abscess seen in a Community Hospital.

Medical records of all patients admitted to Sierrallana Hospital (Torrelavega, Cantabria) from January 1995 till June 1998, because of head and neck abscess were reviewed.

Fyfty-seven head and neck abscess of 54 patients were considered. Age of patients ranged from 14 to 78-year-old. Periamygdaline region was the most frequent location, where as tonsillar and dental infections were the origins of the abscess in the large majority of cases. Most of the abscess cultures yield mixed flora. Intravenous penicillin was used in 77.3 percent of patients and surgical drainage was required in almost 80 percent of cases. Treatment response was good with no serious complications in any case.

Head and neck abscess are a relative common cause of hospital admissions. Among them periamygdaline abscess are frequently found. The treatment is surgical drainage with local or general anesthesia (depending of location) and simultaneous i.v. course of antibiotic (Penicillin G sodium salt) efficacious in the great number of patients. Serious complications are very rare.