title: Zygomatic haematoma in an 11-month-old helps diagnose retropharyngeal abscess, with concurrent tonsillitis and subsequent infant tonsillectomy.
abstract: An 11-month-old boy presented with a 2-day history of non-specific symptoms and a zygomatic haematoma. With aetiology uncertain after admission clerking and blood tests, a CT head scan was arranged for suspected traumatic injury and revealed a retropharyngeal abscess (RPA) with significant airway narrowing in the transverse plane. The patient received urgent intraoral abscess drainage and bilateral tonsillectomy in theatre. This case highlights the need for a high index of suspicion regarding RPAs. These abscesses have potentially fatal sequelae and are difficult to diagnose in the infant paediatric population.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Morriston Hospital, Swansea, UK.
authors.forename: David H
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Collis
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Morriston Hospital, Swansea, UK.
authors.forename: Ameeth
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sanu
mesh_terms: D000082:Acetaminophen / Q000008:administration & dosage; D018712:Analgesics, Non-Narcotic / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000855:Anorexia / Q000209:etiology; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D002439:Cefotaxime / Q000008:administration & dosage; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004322:Drainage; D006406:Hematoma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008795:Metronidazole / Q000008:administration & dosage; D011182:Postoperative Care; D017703:Retropharyngeal Abscess / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014068:Tonsillectomy; D014069:Tonsillitis / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014839:Vomiting / Q000209:etiology
chemical_list: D018712:Analgesics, Non-Narcotic; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D008795:Metronidazole; D000082:Acetaminophen; D003907:Dexamethasone; D002439:Cefotaxime