User:Mr. Ibrahem/Retropharyngeal abscess
| Retropharyngeal abscess | |
|---|---|
 | |
| A lateral neck X-ray demonstrating soft tissue swelling in front of the vertebrae (marked by the arrow) as seen in a person with a retropharyngeal abscess. | |
| Specialty | ENT surgery |
| Symptoms | Difficulty swallowing, neck pain, fever, stiff neck, change in voice, large lymph nodes[1] |
| Complications | Airway obstruction, mediastinitis[1] |
| Risk factors | Injury to the back of the throat, preceeding upper respiratory tract infection, diabetes, poor oral hygiene[1] |
| Diagnostic method | Based on symptoms, confirmed by medical imaging[2] |
| Differential diagnosis | Pharyngitis, epiglottitis, mediastinitis, peritonsillar abscess[1] |
| Treatment | Antibiotics, endotracheal intubation, incision and drainage[1][2] |
| Frequency | Uncommon[1] |
Retropharyngeal abscess (RPA) is an pus collection located within the tissues of the back of the throat.[2] Symptoms may include difficulty swallowing, neck pain, fever, stiff neck, change in voice, and large lymph nodes.[1] Extending the neck may make the symptoms worse.[1] Onset is often over a few days.[1] Complications may include airway obstruction or mediastinitis.[1]
It is often preceded by injury to the back of the throat or an upper respiratory tract infection.[1] Risk factors diabetes and poor oral hygiene.[1] Bacteria commonly involved include group A streptococcus, Staphylococcus aureus, Fusobacterium, Haemophilus.[1] Diagnosis is suspected based on symptoms and confirmed by X-ray or CT scan.[2]
Treatment includes antibiotics, and possibly endotracheal intubation and incision and drainage.[1][2] Commonly used antibiotics include ceftriaxone or clindamycin.[2] Outcomes are generally good with timely treatment.[2] Retropharyngeal abscesses are uncommon.[1] While it can also occur at any age, it is most common in children under 5 years old.[3][1]
References[edit]
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p Jain, H; Knorr, TL; Sinha, V (January 2022). "Retropharyngeal Abscess". PMID 28722903.
{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires|journal=(help) - ^ a b c d e f g "Retropharyngeal Abscess - Ear, Nose, and Throat Disorders". Merck Manuals Consumer Version. Archived from the original on 30 October 2021. Retrieved 29 April 2022.
- ^ "Retropharyngeal abscess - Symptoms, diagnosis and treatment | BMJ Best Practice US". bestpractice.bmj.com. Archived from the original on 6 May 2021. Retrieved 29 April 2022.