Retropharyngeal Abscess
Basics
Description
A relatively rare but potentially life-threatening infection occurring in the potential space between the posterior pharyngeal wall and prevertebral fascia
Epidemiology
- Winter-spring seasonality
- Children <5 years are at highest risk.
- 4.1 per 100,000 children <20 years old
- Male-to-female ratio 2:1
Pathophysiology
- Most infections result from pharyngitis or supraglottitis and occur because of suppuration of the retropharyngeal lymph nodes, which lie in two paramedian chains and drain various nasopharyngeal structures and sinuses.
- These lymph gland chains disappear in childhood; thus, retropharyngeal abscesses are most common in infancy and early childhood.
- Cellulitis of the retropharyngeal area leads to formation of a phlegmon, which matures into an abscess.
- Other sources of infection in this space, often seen in older children and adolescents, include penetrating trauma of the posterior pharynx (e.g., foreign object aspiration, dental procedures, attempts at intubation).
- Extension of infection into this space can arise from vertebral body osteomyelitis or a dental abscess.
Etiology
- Infectious: Cultures often reveal multiple organisms.
- The predominant organisms isolated include the following:
- Streptococcus (group A and others)
- Staphylococcus aureus
- Various anaerobic species (e.g., Bacteroides, Peptostreptococcus, Fusobacterium)
- Many of the isolates are β-lactamase producers.
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Citation
Cabana, Michael D., editor. "Retropharyngeal Abscess." 5-Minute Pediatric Consult, 8th ed., Wolters Kluwer, 2019. Pediatrics Central, peds.unboundmedicine.com/pedscentral/view/5-Minute-Pediatric-Consult/617239/2.1/Retropharyngeal_Abscess.
Retropharyngeal Abscess. In: Cabana MDM, ed. 5-Minute Pediatric Consult. Wolters Kluwer; 2019. https://peds.unboundmedicine.com/pedscentral/view/5-Minute-Pediatric-Consult/617239/2.1/Retropharyngeal_Abscess. Accessed December 11, 2024.
Retropharyngeal Abscess. (2019). In Cabana, M. D. (Ed.), 5-Minute Pediatric Consult (8th ed.). Wolters Kluwer. https://peds.unboundmedicine.com/pedscentral/view/5-Minute-Pediatric-Consult/617239/2.1/Retropharyngeal_Abscess
Retropharyngeal Abscess [Internet]. In: Cabana MDM, editors. 5-Minute Pediatric Consult. Wolters Kluwer; 2019. [cited 2024 December 11]. Available from: https://peds.unboundmedicine.com/pedscentral/view/5-Minute-Pediatric-Consult/617239/2.1/Retropharyngeal_Abscess.
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