RETROPHARYNGEAL ABSCESSES Meaning and
Definition
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A retropharyngeal abscess is a medical condition characterized by the presence of a collection of pus in the retropharyngeal space, which is the area located behind the posterior pharyngeal wall and in front of the cervical spine. This condition usually occurs as a result of a bacterial infection, commonly caused by Streptococcus pyogenes or Staphylococcus aureus.
Retropharyngeal abscesses typically develop in children under the age of five, although they can also affect adults. The condition is often associated with an upper respiratory tract infection, such as tonsillitis or pharyngitis, which can precede the abscess formation.
Symptoms of retropharyngeal abscesses include severe throat pain, difficulty swallowing, drooling, stiff neck, fever, and enlargement of the lymph nodes in the neck. In some cases, patients may experience difficulty breathing or cyanosis if the abscess compresses the airway.
Diagnosis is usually made through a combination of clinical examination, medical history, and imaging studies, such as a computed tomography (CT) scan. Treatment of retropharyngeal abscesses typically involves a combination of intravenous antibiotics to eradicate the infection and surgical drainage of the abscess to relieve symptoms and prevent complications.
If left untreated, retropharyngeal abscesses can lead to serious complications, such as airway obstruction, sepsis, or the spread of the infection to nearby structures. Thus, prompt medical attention and appropriate treatment are essential to achieve a successful outcome and prevent potential complications.
Common Misspellings for RETROPHARYNGEAL ABSCESSES
- retropharyngeal abscess
- eetropharyngeal abscesses
- detropharyngeal abscesses
- fetropharyngeal abscesses
- tetropharyngeal abscesses
- 5etropharyngeal abscesses
- 4etropharyngeal abscesses
- rwtropharyngeal abscesses
- rstropharyngeal abscesses
- rdtropharyngeal abscesses
- rrtropharyngeal abscesses
- r4tropharyngeal abscesses
- r3tropharyngeal abscesses
- rerropharyngeal abscesses
- refropharyngeal abscesses
- regropharyngeal abscesses
- reyropharyngeal abscesses
- re6ropharyngeal abscesses
- re5ropharyngeal abscesses
- reteopharyngeal abscesses
Etymology of RETROPHARYNGEAL ABSCESSES
The word "retropharyngeal" is derived from two roots: "retro", meaning backward, and "pharyngeal", pertaining to the pharynx, which is the part of the throat behind the mouth and nasal cavity. "Abscess" refers to a localized collection of pus.
Therefore, "retropharyngeal abscess" refers to a collection of infected fluid or pus that forms in the space behind the pharynx. The etymology of this term is based on the anatomical location of the abscess.
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