title: Abscesses of the neck in infants and young children. A review of 112 cases.
abstract: A review of 112 patients 5 years of age and younger with cervical abscesses is reported. Staphylococcus aureus and group A beta-hemolytic Streptococcus were cultured most often: in 39% and 17% of patients, respectively. Sixteen patients (14%) had unusual abscesses such as infected congenital cysts, cat-scratch disease, or myocobacterial abscesses. One patient had a necrotizing infection with group A streptococci and anaerobic streptococci. Intravenous antibiotic therapy was used in 104 patients, with 94% of these patients receiving a penicillin derivative, usually an antistaphylococcal penicillin. Ninety-six percent of the patients had incision and drainage of their abscesses; 8 patients required more than one incision and drainage. Two patients required airway intervention, 1 by intubation and 1 by trachetomy. Most pediatric cervical abscesses respond well to appropriate intravenous antibiotic therapy and incision and drainage.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Los Angeles County-University of Southern California Medical Center.
authors.forename: D B
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Hawkins
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Austin
mesh_terms: D000038:Abscess / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D004322:Drainage; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D009333:Neck; D010406:Penicillins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000453:epidemiology*; D013290:Streptococcal Infections / Q000453:epidemiology*; D013297:Streptococcus pyogenes / Q000302:isolation & purification*
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D010406:Penicillins