Clinical Study of Deep Neck Infection: Clinical Analysis of a Hundred Cases

Kim, Chung Seop; Ha, Jung Hwan; Kim, Dong Joon; Choi, Il Kyung; Park, Ji Hong; Jeong, Young Joon

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Due to the antibiotic therapy and the appropriate treatment, the incidence of the infections of the neck decreased. But during last 5 years in the Red Cross hospital, there were the hundred cases. And a few significant complications were still experienced.
OBJECTIVES
For the early treatment and the prevention of the infection of the neck, it is necessary to study the characteristics, the diagnosis, and the treatment.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
The hundred cases of the infections of the neck in the Red Cross hospital from January in 1992 to December in 1996 were analyzed about the age and sex distribution related to spaces involved, the location of cellulitis and abscess, the side of lesion, the symptoms and signs, the etiologic events, the associated conditions, the results of culture, the special diagnostic methods, the treatments, and the complications.
RESULTS
In the infections of the neck, the following contents were more frequent: male(sex), the third decade(age), pain and fever(symptoms and signs), acute tonsillitis and odontogenic origin(etiologic events), Diabetes Mellitus(associated condition), hemolytic Streptococcus and Bacteroides(the results of culture), and Computerized Tomography(the special diagnostic methods). There was no significant difference in the side of lesion. The useful treatment in the peritonsillar space infection was the incision and drainage and then tonsillectomy two or three weeks after the recovery of the infection, and in the deep neck space infection, only antibiotic therapy or the incision and drainage with the antibiotic therapy were useful. The complications were four cases with two cases of sepsis, one cases of mediastinitis, and one cases of internal jugular vein thrombosis.
CONCLUSION
In spite of the antibiotic therapy and the appropriate treatment, there were some complications experieced. So, we must know the characteristics of the infection of the neck well, and the systemic and active attitude is necessary.