Clinical Profile and Outcome of Head and Neck Abscesses in 68 Patients at a Tertiary Care Centre

An abscess in head and neck region causes life threatening complications which may result in death. Because of challenging early recognition and wide range of its presenting features the present study was carried out to study in detail the clinico- demographic profile of the patients with head and neck abscesses. An observational cross sectional study was carried out on 68 cases of head and neck abscesses in a tertiary care center in Maharashtra. Out of 68 cases, 43(63.23%) were males and 25(36.77%) were females. Around 57% of the cases were in the age group of 11 to 40 years. 36(52.94%) cases had abscesses in the neck region while 32(47.06%) cases had it in the head region. Majority of the cases were of submandibular abscesses (18; 26.47%) followed by mastoid abscess (11;16.18%), Ludwig's angina (9;13.24%) and others. Most common etiology was odontogenic in origin (24; 35.29%) followed by otogenic (23; 33.82%). Pain and swelling (56; 82.35%) were the most common presenting features followed by fever (32, 47.06%) and others. 25% cases had history of diabetes mallitus. Incision and drainage was the most common mode of treatment used. Majority abscesses can be treated successfully by incision and drainage with the cover of antibiotics. Diabetic cases of abscesses can be managed successfully without any complications or prolonged hospital stay with good sugar control.