title: Retropharyngeal abscess and Epstein-Barr virus infection in children.
abstract: A 6-year retrospective chart review was conducted of all pediatric patients with the diagnosis of retropharyngeal abscess (RPA) at the Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center. The charts were examined for signs, symptoms, and serologic findings consistent with recent acute Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection. Of the 7 patients we studied, 4 had elevated immunoglobulin G antibodies that were consistent with recent acute EBV infection, and 3 patients were not tested. The 4 patients with positive titers also presented with signs typical for acute EBV infection, including fever (3/4), lymphadenopathy (4/4), and pharyngitis (4/4). Of note, the 2 patients who were older than expected for RPA (ages 18 and 11) had the most severe infections. We submit that there may be a role for EBV infection in the pathogenesis of RPA formation in children. Increasing age may correlate with a more severe infection in this setting.
authors.affiliation: Division of Pediatric Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Babies and Children's Hospital of New York, Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center, New York 10032, USA.
authors.forename: T G
authors.initials: TG
authors.lastname: Takoudes
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Haddad
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000293:Adolescent; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004322:Drainage; D020031:Epstein-Barr Virus Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D008206:Lymphatic Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D008499:Medical Records; D009333:Neck / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D017703:Retropharyngeal Abscess / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery / Q000821:virology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents