title: Acute paediatric neck abscesses.
abstract: Acute neck swellings in a paediatric setting are often treated with antibiotics, proceeding to incision and drainage if an abscess is suspected. A variety of investigations are available and the causative organism can vary. A five-year retrospective study analysing trends in microbiology, antibiotic sensitivity, clinical evaluation and management of children presenting with an acute cervical abscess of four weeks duration or less was performed. The case notes of 175 children admitted between January 1996 and December 2000 to the acute surgical admission unit at the Royal Hospital of Sick Children, Glasgow were studied. During this period there were 90 males and 85 females with a mean age of three years (range: one month to 13 years). One hundred and twenty three (70%) children underwent surgery with pus being confirmed in 114 (93%) of cases. Ultrasound was performed in 70 (40%) patients with 48 proceeding to surgery. Positive culture of pus from abscess cavities revealed Staphylococcus aureus in 46% (85% sensitive to both flucloxacillin and erythromycin) and Streptococcus pyogenes in 15% (80% sensitive to penicillin and 75% to erythromycin). The role of investigations and the available treatment options are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Gartnavel General Hospital, Glasgow. davidmcgregorwynne@hotmail.com
authors.forename: D M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Wynne
authors.forename: H K
authors.initials: HK
authors.lastname: Borg
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Botma
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: MacGregor
mesh_terms: D000038:Abscess / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000628:therapy*; D000208:Acute Disease; D000293:Adolescent; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D044963:Biopsy, Fine-Needle; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004322:Drainage; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D009333:Neck; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012606:Scotland / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents