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[Retropharyngeal and parapharyngeal abscess: experience in a tertiary-care center in Seville during the last decade]

B Croche Santander1, A Prieto Del Prado, M D Madrid Castillo

  • 1Sección de Enfermedades Infecciosas e Inmunodeficiencias, Hospital Universitario Virgen del Rocío, Sevilla, España. lourinho man@hotmail.com

Anales De Pediatria (Barcelona, Spain : 2003)
|May 3, 2011
PubMed

Insights

Retropharyngeal and parapharyngeal abscesses in children are increasingly diagnosed. Conservative management shows excellent clinical response, similar to surgical intervention, indicating treatment should be guided by presentation and antibiotic response.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Otolaryngology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Surgical Pathology

Context:

  • Retropharyngeal and parapharyngeal abscesses are rare but serious infections in children.
  • These deep neck infections carry significant morbidity and potential mortality.
  • Understanding diagnostic and management strategies is crucial for pediatric care.

Purpose:

  • To review the diagnosis and management of pediatric retropharyngeal and parapharyngeal abscesses.
  • To compare outcomes between conservative and surgical treatment approaches.
  • To analyze trends in the incidence of these infections.

Summary:

  • A retrospective analysis identified 31 children with retropharyngeal/parapharyngeal abscesses between 2000-2009, noting a significant increase in annual frequency.
  • Fever, cervical lymphadenopathy, and neck pain were common symptoms; 58% received pre-admission antibiotics.
  • While 42% underwent surgery, no significant difference in outcomes (hospital stay, complications, recurrence) was found between conservative and surgical groups.

Impact:

  • Highlights an increasing incidence of deep neck abscesses in children.
  • Supports conservative management as a primary approach with excellent outcomes.
  • Emphasizes clinical presentation and antibiotic response as key factors for surgical intervention decisions.
Abstract

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