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Children with deep space neck infections: our experience with 178 children.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Cheng, J; Elden, L
Published in: Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg
June 2013

OBJECTIVE: To identify clinical features associated with unsuccessful medical therapy in children with deep space neck infections (DSNIs). STUDY DESIGN: Consecutive case series with chart review. SETTING: Tertiary-care, academic children's hospital. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: One hundred seventy-eight pediatric patients treated for retropharyngeal or parapharyngeal infections between July 1, 2007, and May 23, 2012. RESULTS: Median age was 34.5 months (2.9 years; range, 2-142 months); two-thirds were male. Increased surgical drainage was found in children age ≤ 15 months (P = .002) and for abscesses >2.2 cm (P = .0001). Risk factors associated with increased likelihood of medical therapy failure included age ≤ 51 months, intensive care unit admission, and computed tomography findings consistent with abscess size >2.2 cm. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus infections were found more often in younger children, with the highest incidence in those ≤ 15 months of age (P = .001). All children had resolution of infection. CONCLUSION: Deep space neck infections in children can often be successfully managed with medical therapy alone, but life-threatening complications may occur. We recommend that young patients be managed cautiously.

Duke Scholars

Published In

Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg

DOI

EISSN

1097-6817

Publication Date

June 2013

Volume

148

Issue

6

Start / End Page

1037 / 1042

Location

England

Related Subject Headings

  • Treatment Outcome
  • Severity of Illness Index
  • Risk Assessment
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Retropharyngeal Abscess
  • Recurrence
  • Pharyngeal Diseases
  • Otorhinolaryngology
  • Neck
  • Male
 

Citation

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Cheng, J., & Elden, L. (2013). Children with deep space neck infections: our experience with 178 children. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg, 148(6), 1037–1042. https://doi.org/10.1177/0194599813482292
Cheng, Jeffrey, and Lisa Elden. “Children with deep space neck infections: our experience with 178 children.Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 148, no. 6 (June 2013): 1037–42. https://doi.org/10.1177/0194599813482292.
Cheng J, Elden L. Children with deep space neck infections: our experience with 178 children. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2013 Jun;148(6):1037–42.
Cheng, Jeffrey, and Lisa Elden. “Children with deep space neck infections: our experience with 178 children.Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg, vol. 148, no. 6, June 2013, pp. 1037–42. Pubmed, doi:10.1177/0194599813482292.
Cheng J, Elden L. Children with deep space neck infections: our experience with 178 children. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2013 Jun;148(6):1037–1042.
Journal cover image

Published In

Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg

DOI

EISSN

1097-6817

Publication Date

June 2013

Volume

148

Issue

6

Start / End Page

1037 / 1042

Location

England

Related Subject Headings

  • Treatment Outcome
  • Severity of Illness Index
  • Risk Assessment
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Retropharyngeal Abscess
  • Recurrence
  • Pharyngeal Diseases
  • Otorhinolaryngology
  • Neck
  • Male