Ten years of deep neck space abscesses

The incidence of deep neck space abscesses, which can result in significant morbidity and mortality, is rising. The aetiology is thought to be dental. However, this study suggests a reduction in tonsillectomies may be associated with the rise. In a retrospective cohort study, patients were identifie...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of laryngology and otology 2019-04, Vol.133 (4), p.324-328
Main Authors: Buckley, J, Harris, A S, Addams-Williams, J
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Abscesses
Adolescent
Adult
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Causality
Child
Child, Preschool
Demographics
Demography
Dental hygiene
Dental infection
Diabetes
Diabetes Complications - microbiology
Diabetes mellitus
Female
Hospitals
Humans
Incidence
Infections
Main Articles
Male
Middle Aged
Morbidity
Neck
Oral Hygiene
Otolaryngology
Patients
Pediatrics
Peritonsillar Abscess - epidemiology
Peritonsillar Abscess - etiology
Retrospective Studies
Risk factors
Smoking
Smoking - adverse effects
Stomatognathic Diseases - complications
Stomatognathic Diseases - microbiology
Studies
Tonsillitis
Tonsillitis - complications
Ultrasonic imaging
Young Adult
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Summary:The incidence of deep neck space abscesses, which can result in significant morbidity and mortality, is rising. The aetiology is thought to be dental. However, this study suggests a reduction in tonsillectomies may be associated with the rise. In a retrospective cohort study, patients were identified by a clinical code within one hospital over 10 years. Evidence of preceding infection source, management, lifestyle risks, comorbidities and demographics were extracted. Fifty-two patients were included: 23 (44 per cent) had concurrent or recent tonsillitis; 11 (21 per cent) had poor dental hygiene; 22 (42 per cent) were smokers; and 9 (17 per cent) had diabetes. The incidence of deep neck space abscess cases increased from 1 in 2006, to 15 in 2015 (correlation value 0.9; p = 0.00019). The incidence of deep neck space abscess cases is increasing. Risk factors include tonsillitis, smoking and dental infection. This paper adds to the growing evidence that deep neck space abscesses are increasingly related to tonsillitis, and questions whether the threshold for tonsillectomy has been raised too high.
ISSN:0022-2151
1748-5460
DOI:10.1017/S0022215119000458