Abstract
An 11-month-old boy presented with a 2-day history of non-specific symptoms and a zygomatic haematoma. With aetiology uncertain after admission clerking and blood tests, a CT head scan was arranged for suspected traumatic injury and revealed a retropharyngeal abscess (RPA) with significant airway narrowing in the transverse plane. The patient received urgent intraoral abscess drainage and bilateral tonsillectomy in theatre. This case highlights the need for a high index of suspicion regarding RPAs. These abscesses have potentially fatal sequelae and are difficult to diagnose in the infant paediatric population.
2016 BMJ Publishing Group Ltd.
MeSH terms
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Acetaminophen / administration & dosage
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Analgesics, Non-Narcotic / administration & dosage
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Anorexia / etiology
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Anti-Bacterial Agents / administration & dosage
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Cefotaxime / administration & dosage
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Dexamethasone / administration & dosage
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Drainage
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Hematoma / diagnostic imaging*
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Hematoma / etiology*
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Humans
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Infant
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Male
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Metronidazole / administration & dosage
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Postoperative Care
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Retropharyngeal Abscess / complications*
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Retropharyngeal Abscess / diagnostic imaging*
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Retropharyngeal Abscess / surgery
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Tomography, X-Ray Computed
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Tonsillectomy*
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Tonsillitis / complications
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Tonsillitis / diagnostic imaging*
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Tonsillitis / surgery*
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Treatment Outcome
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Vomiting / etiology
Substances
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Analgesics, Non-Narcotic
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Anti-Bacterial Agents
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Metronidazole
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Acetaminophen
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Dexamethasone
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Cefotaxime