Deep neck space infections in a three month old child: a case report

ABSTRACT

A three month old boy presented with fever, dysphagia and dyspnoea. The child had a swelling behind the mandible, the soft palate was congested and oedematous, and the tonsil was congested and medially displaced. Intra oral aspiration of the pus following endotracheal intubation relieved the condition. The child was later found to have peritonsillar, parapharyngeal and retropharyngeal abscesses on Computerized Tomography. E.Coli was grown on culture. Repeat aspiration and antibiotic therapy were given to resolve the infection. A tonsillectomy was performed six weeks later. Neck space infections rarely occur in infants and can lead to respiratory obstruction. Antibiotics administered should cover Gram negative bacteria along with Gram positive and anaerobic bacteria. Repeated intraoral aspiration if monitored by CT scan obviates the need for incision and drainage in small children