Retropharyngeal Abscess Presenting as Stridor in a 35 Days Male Infant: A Case Report
Achinta Kumar Mallick *
Department of Pediatrics, Military Hospital Bathinda, Punjab, India.
Abhishek Mishra
Department of Radiology, Military Hospital Bathinda, Punjab, India.
Pravin Kumar Yadav
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Military Hospital Bathinda, Punjab, India.
Anushree Mishra
Department of Ophthalmology, Military Hospital Bathinda, Punjab, India.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Retropharyngeal abscess (RPA) is a rare entity in infants. There is limited knowledge and literature available about RPA in neonates and young infants owing to its atypical presentation, often causing a diagnostic dilemma to the treating physicians. RPA should always be kept in mind for all infants presenting with upper respiratory tract symptoms. Proper history, meticulous clinical examination and a very high index of suspicion is key to its prompt diagnosis. There is always a risk of airway compromise in neonates and young infants, owing to the narrow airway and an early surgical intervention is mandatory. We hereby present a rare case of RPA in a 35 day old male infant having atypical presentation of stridor and sepsis. Timely radiological evaluation in form of ultrasonography (USG) & contrast enhanced computerized tomography (CECT) neck was instrumental not only in prompt diagnosis but also in immediate decompression drainage of abscess which turned out to be lifesaving.
Keywords: Retropharyngeal abscess, infant, staphylococcus aureus, stridor