Acute retropharyngeal abscess in children.

Due to the wide availability of effective antibiotics, acute retropharyngeal abscesses have become increasingly rare. This is a retrospective report of ten children with this condition, managed over a 10-year period. Nearly all were aged 12 months or less and presented only when respiratory obstruction had developed. Owing to administration of antibiotics at home, cultures of pus specimens were sterile in most cases. The retropharyngeal space was widened on lateral, plan cervical radiography in five children. Four had drainage by external cervical incision, and in four drainage was by mouth, all under general anaesthesia. Tracheostomy was necessary in one child who developed respiratory obstruction and the abscess was drained by needle aspiration. One child died before drainage of the abscess. Parenteral antibiotics were administered also for 5 days. There was no recurrence in any case. Laryngeal spasm occurred post-operatively in two children, leading to death in one. Overall, two children died. The features and management of the disease are reviewed briefly to re-awaken awareness of the condition, especially in developing countries where it is most likely to be seen at the present time.