A 5-Year-Old Child with a Deep Neck Abscess Complicated by Laryngeal Obstruction

Overview

Journal Children (Basel)

Specialty Health Services

Date 2023 Jan 21

PMID 36670568

Authors

Armando Di Ludovico

Massimiliano Raso

Paola Di Filippo

Sabrina Di Pillo

Roberta Zappacosta

Giustino Parruti

Pasquale Zingariello

Francesco Chiarelli

Marina Attanasi

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Deep neck space infections (DNSI) are defined as infections in the potential spaces and fascial planes of the neck. We show the clinical case of a retro and para-pharyngeal abscess in a healthy 5-year-old child complicated by compression and dislocation of the larynx with marked airway caliber reduction and potentially fatal extension up to the mediastinal aditus. DNSI can occur at any age and, due to its rapid progression, requires immediate treatment in children. In healthy children, concurrent abscesses in separate neck spaces are rare. DNSI recurrence should alert the physician to the possibility of a congenital problem, and if imaging fails, laryngoscopy may be the best diagnostic technique.

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