title: Massive retropharyngeal lymphadenopathy in an infant: an unusual presentation of infectious mononucleosis.
abstract: Infectious mononucleosis causing upper airway obstruction due to tonsillar disease and associated lymphadenopathy in adolescents is well recognized. However, infection with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) in a young child of six months is rare. The authors present such a case, with massive swelling of the retropharyngeal lymph nodes, that has not been published previously. The patient presented to this department with a short history of an upper respiratory tract infection and mild upper airway obstruction. On examination there was a massive enlargement of the retropharyngeal space with a compromised airway. This was confirmed on X-ray. She made an uneventful recovery following incision and drainage and a short period of endotracheal intubation. Because of the presence of retropharyngeal lymphoid tissue in infancy an alternative site of upper airway obstruction may occur here in this age group.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Prince Charles Hospital, Merthyr Tydfil, East Glamorgan, UK. sudhirlobo@aol.com
authors.forename: Sudhir
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lobo
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Singh
mesh_terms: D000402:Airway Obstruction / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000821:virology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007244:Infectious Mononucleosis / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D008206:Lymphatic Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000821:virology*; D010608:Pharyngeal Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000821:virology*; D011859:Radiography