Low urgency
-Moderately severe
This is a collection of pus in the back of the throat, usually of bacterial origin due to a local infection. It is most common in children under the age of 5.
Symptoms include fever, severe sore throat and difficulty swallowing.
The diagnosis is made by clinical interview and physical examination. It is confirmed by blood culture and imaging, usually a CT scan.
Treatment with antibiotics should be given in the early stages. If there is shortness of breath and wheezing (stridor), or if the symptoms do not improve, it is very likely that the pus will need to be drained surgically and will be considered a life-threatening emergency.
- Ellen R Wald. Retropharyngeal infections in children. UpToDate. Mar 11, 2016.
- Tebruegge M, Curtis N. Infections related to the upper and middle airways. In: Principles and Practice of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, 3rd ed, Long SS, Pickering LK, Prober CG (Eds), Elsevier Saunders, New York 2012. p.205.
- Martin CA, Gabrillargues J, Louvrier C, et al. Contribution of CT scan and CT-guided aspiration in the management of retropharyngeal abscess in children based on a series of 18 cases. Eur Ann Otorhinolaryngol Head Neck Dis 2014; 131:277.
- Vivas MF, Velasco R, Fernández MA. Dificultad respiratoria en el niño. Manual de protocolos y actuación en urgencias. Hospital Virgen de la Salud, Complejo Hospitalario de Toledo. Tercera edición. 2010: 1279-1286
- Saluja S, Brietzke SE, Egan KK, et al. A prospective study of 113 deep neck infections managed using a clinical practice guideline. Laryngoscope 2013; 123:3211.
Dr. Sara Vitoria
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