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Retropharyngeal Abscess

Aka: Retropharyngeal Abscess

Epidemiology
1. Disease of infants and young children
Pathophysiology
1. Retropharyngeal lymph nodes not atrophied in children
2. Accumulation of pus in retropharyngeal space
3. Mixed aerobic and anaerobic flora
Symptoms
1. Neck Pain (out of proportion to findings)
2. Dysphagia
3. Fever
Signs
1. May be difficult to appreciate pharyngeal fullness
Radiology
1. Lateral neck XRay
  1. Bulging of posterior pharyngeal wall
2. CT Neck
  1. May demonstrate abscess extent
Management
1. Hospitalize
  1. Airway observation
  2. IV Antibiotics
2. Early ENT consultation
  1. Incision and Drainage in operating room

Family Practice Notebook

Patients should address specific medical concerns with their physicians.

Although access to this page is not restricted, the information found here is intended for use by medical providers.

This page was written by Scott Moses, MD, last revised on 10/21/2007 and last published on 5/14/2013.

This is one of 5887 pages in the Family Practice Notebook