Retropharyngeal involvement in multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children: Case report and review of literature

Abstract

A diagnosis of multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children should be made in the appropriate context and after ruling out other infectious causes. At the same time, clinicians should be diligent as the initial presentation can be unusual and the clinical picture can evolve over time. We report a case that was initially diagnosed as a retropharyngeal infection that did not improve on appropriate antimicrobial coverage. However, as the clinical picture evolved, the patient was found to have multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children and appropriately responded to immunomodulatory treatment. Pediatric infectious diseases practice has been significantly affected by the COVID-19 virus and multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children; data are still emerging as the pandemic evolves. We report this case and conduct literature review to expand the body of evidence about the association between multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children and retropharyngeal involvement.

Emerging findings for the assessment and treatment of pediatric deep neck abscesses

“…Three case reports published within the past 18 months describe children with multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) resembling the findings of an RPA [15 ▪ ,16,17]. The report by Oliva et al [15 ▪ ] describes a 5-year-old boy presenting with a recent COVID-19 infection and symptoms of fever, neck pain, odynophagia, headache, nasal congestion, and lethargy. Neck CT imaging demonstrated retropharyngeal phlegmonous changes.…”