Clinical Features and Treatment Outcomes of Pediatric Deep Neck Infection

소아 심경부 감염의 임상적 고찰

Background: Pediatric deep neck infection can cause critical complications in that they are seldom able to verbalize symptoms or cooperate with physical examination. The objective of this study is to identify the clinical characteristics according to age. Material and Method: A retrospective study was performed on 26 cases with pediatric deep neck infection during 12 years. Patients were classified infancy group (1-7 yr, 19.2%), preschool age group (7-15 yr, 30.8%) and school age group (15 yr-, 50%). We analyzed the age, sex, sites of abscess, predisposing factors, symptoms and compared onset, hospital date, laboratory and outcomes at each group. Results: In pediatric patients with deep neck infection, the age distribution was 18 males (69.2%) and 8 females (30.8%), the mean age was 7.4 years. The most common infection site was the anterior cervical triangle and submandibular space (19.2%). The most commonly known associated preceding disease was upper viral infection (34.6%), but we could not find the preceding diseases in most of cases (50%). Neck swelling (69.2%) was the most frequent symptom. The mean age of patients who performed neck CT was 8.23 years and neck US was 2.75 years. The younger patients were preferred to perform the neck US than the neck CT (p=0.022). The mean time from disease onset to admission was 9 days in the infancy, 5.5 days in the preschool aged and 5 days in the school aged group. The surgical treatment was performed in 30.8% of school aged, 62.5% of preschool aged and 100% of infancy group. Surgical treatment was preferred to younger patients (p=0.026). Conclusion: Abscess sites, size, and antibiotics susceptibility and especially patient age should be carefully considered in treating pediatric deep neck infection.