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Increased Pediatric Head and Neck Abscesses Following the COVID-19 Pandemic
Marco DiBlasi1, Ryan C Higgins2, Nicole Welch1
1Creighton University School of Medicine, Omaha, Nebraska, USA.
The Laryngoscope
|July 9, 2026
Summary
Pediatric head and neck abscesses significantly increased after COVID-19 public health measures. This rise in pediatric infections highlights potential long-term impacts on immune development and warrants further investigation.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric infectious diseases
- Otolaryngology
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Concerns exist regarding COVID-19 public health measures impacting pediatric immune development and infection patterns.
- Studies suggest a rise in pediatric abscesses post-pandemic, necessitating evaluation of head and neck abscess trends.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate changes in the incidence, clinical features, and management of pediatric head and neck abscesses.
- To compare these abscesses before, during, and after COVID-19 lockdown restrictions.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective cohort study of 194 pediatric patients (≤18 years) with head and neck abscesses from 2017-2024.
- Stratification into pre-pandemic, lockdown, and post-pandemic cohorts; incidence calculated via Poisson regression.
- Comparison of variables using Fisher's exact and Kruskal-Wallis tests; national trends contextualized with Epic Cosmos data.
Main Results:
- Abscess incidence rose 3.28-fold post-pandemic compared to pre-pandemic levels (p < 0.0001).
- Increased incidence observed across all head and neck abscess subtypes, including cervical, peritonsillar, deep neck space, and intracranial.
- Abscess size increased during lockdown; post-pandemic patients required more repeat surgeries (17.4% vs. 5.0%).
Conclusions:
- Pediatric head and neck abscesses significantly increased following the COVID-19 pandemic.
- The rise in abscesses was sustained and independent of demographic or treatment factors.
- Further surveillance of pediatric host susceptibility post-pandemic is recommended.
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