Search
Retropharyngeal Abscess
- Retropharyngeal Abscess is primarily a disease of younger children
- Origin may be medical or traumatic (ie running with popsicle stick in mouth).
- Complications:
- Airway compromise
- Sepsis
- Mediastinal extension or invasion into other local structures
- Presentation:
- Neck Pain – most common
- Limitation of neck movement, especially neck extension
- Torticollis
- Fever
- Sore throat
- Neck mass
- Respiratory distress, stridor – rarely
- Neck Pain – most common
- Consider retropharyngeal abscess in pt with fever and limitation of neck mobility even in the absence of respiratory symptoms.
- Were you considering Meningitis (fever and neck pain) and the LP results are normal? Think of retropharyngeal abscess.
- Were you considering Meningitis (fever and neck pain) and the LP results are normal? Think of retropharyngeal abscess.
References
Craig, FW and Schunk, JE. Retropharyngeal Abscess in Children: Clinical Presentation, Utility of Imaging, and Current Management. Pediatrics. 2003;111;1394-1398