Clin Exp Otorhinolaryngol.  2014 Jun;7(2):133-137.

Characteristics of Deep Neck Infection in Children According to Weight Percentile

• Garca MF
• Budak A
• Demir N
• Cankaya H
• Kiroglu AF

Abstract

OBJECTIVES
To evaluate the effect of weight percentile on deep neck infections in children.
METHODS
A retrospective evaluation of 79 patients who were treated for deep neck infections. The patients were divided into six groups according to weight percentile. Patients who had systemic and/or congenital disease were excluded. Their demographics, etiology, localization, laboratory, and treatment results were reviewed.
RESULTS
In total, 79 pediatric patients were recorded: 48.1% were females and 51.9% were males, with a mean age of 7.3 years. In total, 60 patients were under the 50th percentile according to their weight versus all children. The anteroposterior triangle (29.1%) and submandibular (26.5%) spaces were most commonly involved with deep neck infection. However, the anteroposterior triangle space was the highest in the group below the 3rd percentile (44.4%). In the blood analysis, white blood cell levels in patients with at percentile values of 75-50 were higher than other groups (P<0.05). Significant differences were found between C-reactive protein and hemoglobin levels and diameter of abscesses. The need for surgical drainage in patients in lower percentiles was higher. The patients who needed surgical drainage consisted of 56 patients (93.3%) below the 50th percentile and 9 patients (100%) below the 3rd percentile.
CONCLUSION
Deep neck infection is more insidious and dangerous in low-weight-percentile children, especially those having low white blood cell counts, low hemoglobin levels, and high C-reactive protein in laboratory results.

Keyword

C-reactive protein; Children; Deep neck infection; Percentile; Hemoglobin

MeSH Terms

Abscess
C-Reactive Protein
Child*
Demography
Drainage
Female
Humans
Leukocyte Count
Leukocytes
Male
Neck*
Retrospective Studies
C-Reactive Protein

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