A 30-month-old child is brought to the emergency room (ER) by the parents. The child appears to have a sore throat along with dysphagia, fever, and voice changes. The child exhibits a "hot potato voice." Visualization of the posterior pharynx reveals a displaced retropharynx. What condition does this child likely have?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Retropharyngeal abscess commonly occurs in children younger than 3 years of age and can cause obstruction from forward displacement of the posterior pharyngeal wall. Infectious agents involved are Group A Streptococcus, Staphylococcus aureus, and, occasionally, anaerobic bacteria. The child often presents with a sore throat, fever, dysphagia, and voice changes. The voice sounds as if the child is attempting to speak without moving the tongue while maximally expanding the oropharyngeal airway. This is described as "hot potato voice." A lateral neck radiograph is obtained to determine the tissue thickness surrounding the abscess. Visualization of the posterior pharynx may reveal a displaced retropharynx. Surgical drainage is the preferred treatment, along with the administration of appropriate antibiotics based on culture results of the aspirated material.

A 30-Month-Old Child Is Brought to the Emergency Room (ER)