Kawasaki disease presenting as retropharyngeal abscess / 소아과

ABSTRACT

A group of patients with Kawasaki disease (KD) initially present with cervical lymphadenitis or deep neck infection. These unusual KD presentations lead to unnecessary antibiotic therapy or surgical intervention, thereby delaying intravenous immunoglobulin treatment and increasing the risk of coronary artery damage. We present four KD patients whose initial presentations mimicked a retropharyngeal abscess. Nonsuppurative cervical lymphadenitis or suspected neck abscess unresponsive to intravenous antibiotics could signal the possibility of KD.