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Published on: October 25, 2024

Parapharyngeal abscess in children: five year retrospective study

Pedro Miguel dos Santos Marques1, Jorge Eduardo Freitas Spratley, Laurentino Manuel Mendes Leal

  • 1Hospital de S. João E.P.E, Porto University Medical School, Portugal.

Brazilian Journal of Otorhinolaryngology
|March 9, 2010
PubMed

Insights

Lateropharyngeal and retropharyngeal abscesses in children are serious infections. Prompt surgical drainage via a trans-oral approach, combined with antibiotics, leads to rapid recovery with no complications.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Infectious Diseases
  • Otolaryngology
  • Surgical Infections

Background:

  • Lateropharyngeal and retropharyngeal abscesses pose significant life-threatening risks to children.
  • Early diagnosis and effective management are crucial for favorable outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To analyze the causes, clinical presentations, and imaging findings of pediatric lateropharyngeal and retropharyngeal abscesses.
  • To evaluate treatment outcomes and complications associated with a trans-oral surgical approach.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective analysis of 11 pediatric patients diagnosed with lateropharyngeal or retropharyngeal abscesses over five years.
  • Review of clinical charts and CT scans to assess patient data and imaging characteristics.

Main Results:

  • The average age of affected children was 3.3 years, with neck stiffness and odynophagia as common symptoms.
  • Surgical drainage via trans-oral approach within 48 hours resulted in 82% improvement within 48 hours and 100% within 72 hours, with no complications.
  • Fever, stiff neck, oropharyngeal wall bulging, neck mass, and lymphadenopathy were prevalent physical findings.

Conclusions:

  • Antibiotic therapy combined with timely surgical intervention is an effective treatment for refractory parapharyngeal abscesses in children.
  • The trans-oral surgical approach demonstrates good clinical outcomes and a low complication rate.
Abstract

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