Vol.102 No.9 contentsPRACTICA OTO-RHINO-LARYNGOLOGICA
Vol. 102 No. 9 September 2009
A Case of Deep Neck Infection in an Infant Treated with Cervical Incision
Shodai Monju, Takeshi Akisada, Teruhito Aihara,
Yukiyoshi Hyo and Tamotsu Harada
(Kawasaki Medical School)
Deep neck infection is a serious life-threatening infection that spreads in the spaces surrounded by the cervical fasciae. We report a case of deep neck infection in an infant. The patient was a 15-month-old boy who was brought to a nearby pediatrician with chief complaints of right neck tenderness and fever. Deep neck infection was diagnosed based on the results of computed tomography, cervical incision and tracheotomy was performed under general anesthesia and subsequent intravenous antibiotic administration was conducted after the operation. He recovered in about 2 weeks with the disappearance of deep neck abscess.
In conclusion, early diagnosis and surgical drainage are important for the management of deep neck infection. For infants, we must consider abscess incision not only performed orally but also external cervical incision.
Key words :deep neck infection, infant, external cervical incision