Pediatr Allergy Respir Dis.  2006 Mar;16(1):79-85.

A Case of Retropharyngeal Abscess and Mediastinal Abscess with Dyspnea

• Lee SJ

Abstract

Retropharyngeal abscess is a deep neck infection that causes an immediate life-threatening emergency with potential for airway compromise and other catastrophic complications. Mediastinal abscess is also a serious and potentially fatal process. Thus, both early diagnosis and adequate treatment of these diseases are critical. We report a case of dyspnea caused by retropharyngeal abscess and mediastinal abscess in a 9-month-old male patient. The patient had continuous fever and cough after foreign body removal, but had only been diagnosed as, and been treated for, bronchiolitis. He underwent surgical abscess drainage and systemic broad-spectrum antibiotics treatment successfully.

Keyword

Retropharyngeal abscess; Mediastinal abscess; Dyspnea

MeSH Terms

Abscess*
Anti-Bacterial Agents
Bronchiolitis
Cough
Drainage
Dyspnea*
Early Diagnosis
Emergencies
Fever
Foreign Bodies
Humans
Infant
Male
Neck
Retropharyngeal Abscess*
Anti-Bacterial Agents