CLINICAL INDICATORS OF CHILDHOOD RETROPHARYNGEAL ABSCESS

Retropharyngeal abscess is a rare but distinctive cause of airway obst ruction in childhood, Early recognition permits emergent airway manage ment and surgical drainage, Even when the presentation is insidious an d does not include respiratory compromise, early clinical diagnosis of retropharyngeal cellulitis and appropriate medical treatment may halt progression to an abscess. Delay in the diagnosis and management of a retropharyngeal abscess may lead to potentially lethal complications involving vital structures. A case of an infant whose diagnosis of ret ropharyngeal abscess was delayed because of absence of respiratory com promise is reported. Relapse of retropharyngeal abscess despite surgic al drainage and appropriate antibiotic treatment was a complication of infection in this patient. Clinical indicators providing an early dia gnosis of retropharyngeal infection, and aspects of evaluation, manage ment, and outcome, are discussed. Copyright (C) 1995 by W.B. Saunders Company