Retropharyngeal abscess after blunt trauma in an adolescent

Retropharyngeal abscess is an unusual infection in teenagers, and it is rar ely associated with blunt trauma. We present the case of 17-year-old male w ho developed signs and symptoms of retropharyngeal abscess soon after being struck by a car. The case illustrates that retropharyngeal abscess should be considered, even in an adolescent, if the patient has fever, neck stiffn ess, and sore throat with symptoms out of proportion to the oropharyngeal f indings.