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Retropharyngeal abscess as a complication of oropharyngeal trauma in an 18-month-old child

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  08 March 2006

Siou
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Freeman Hospital, Newcastle
Yates
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Freeman Hospital, Newcastle

Abstract

An 18-month-old boy presented to the accident and emergency department following trauma to the oropharynx by a doll’s umbrella. Although no significant injury could be identified at first, it later transpired that he had developed retropharyngeal surgical emphysema with abscess. This case report aims to review the nature of retropharyngeal abscesses and to highlight and re-emphasize the fact that apparently non-serious pharyngeal injuries in children should be treated with suspicion.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Royal Society of Medicine Press Limited 2000

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