Faculty Collaboration Database

Pediatric deep space neck infections: the Medical College of Wisconsin experience. Int J Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol 1997 Jan 03;38(3):263-71

Date

01/03/1997

Pubmed ID

9051431

DOI

10.1016/s0165-5876(96)01453-x

Scopus ID

2-s2.0-0031550307 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site)   32 Citations

Abstract

A retrospective review was performed on 39 patients with deep space neck infection admitted to the Children's Hospital of Wisconsin over a nine year period. The signs and symptoms as well as issues of diagnosis and treatment were reviewed with attention to the use of computed tomography (CT) scans. Beta hemolytic streptococcus was the most commonly cultured organism followed by alpha hemolytic streptococcus. Sixteen patients underwent CT scans. Twelve were diagnosed with an abscess by CT scan. An abscess was confirmed in ten patients. Necrotic lymph nodes mimicked abscesses on CT scans and resulted in negative surgical findings. Airway obstruction occurred in 30% of the children in the study. Children under the age of 36 months had a significantly higher rate of airway obstruction upon presentation compared to older children (P < 0.05). There should be a high index of suspicion of upper airway compromise in children under the age of 36 months with a deep neck infection.

Author List

Flanary VA, Conley SF

Author

Valerie A. Flanary MD Director, Professor in the Otolaryngology department at Medical College of Wisconsin

MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold

Abscess
Airway Obstruction
Child
Child, Preschool
Female
Humans
Infant
Infant, Newborn
Lymph Nodes
Male
Neck
Necrosis
Retrospective Studies
Streptococcus
Tomography, X-Ray Computed