Increased incidence of head and neck abscesses in children.
OBJECTIVE
To describe increasing incidence and changing microbiology of head and neck abscesses in children admitted to the hospital during the first quarters of 2000 through 2003.


METHODS
Retrospective data warehouse review identified 89 children less than 19 years of age admitted to a tertiary care pediatric hospital during the first quarters of 2000 through 2003 for suspicion of head and neck abscess involving the neck, face, and peritonsillar, retropharyngeal, and parapharyngeal spaces; and for orbital and intracranial complications of acute sinusitis.


METHODS
Outcome measures included the incidence of infection admissions and description of infection location and microbiology, calculated by chi2 technique.


RESULTS
The incidence of infections increased in 2003. The greatest increase was in neck abscesses and complications of acute sinusitis.


CONCLUSIONS
The increase in group A strep infections may be related to its biologic properties.


CONCLUSIONS
Group A strep remains a significant cause of head and neck infections in children.
Cabrera
Cristina E
CE
Department of Surgery, Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children, Nemours Children's Clinic, Wilmington, DE 19899, USA.
Deutsch
Ellen S
ES
Eppes
Stephen
S
Lawless
Stephen
S
Cook
Steven
S
O'Reilly
Robert C
RC
Reilly
James S
JS
D000038:Abscess / Q000453:epidemiology*; D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003691:Delaware / Q000453:epidemiology; D006257:Head / Q000382:microbiology*; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D009333:Neck / Q000382:microbiology*; D000039:Peritonsillar Abscess / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology; D010608:Pharyngeal Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D017703:Retropharyngeal Abscess / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013290:Streptococcal Infections / Q000453:epidemiology*; D013297:Streptococcus pyogenes