Trends and Comparison of Children Hospitalized for Retropharyngeal and Parapharyngeal Abscesses 2003-2009

Objectives:Following the peritonsillar space, two confluent spaces house the majority of pediatric deep neck space infections, the retropharyngeal and parapharyngeal sites. Surgical drainage and conservative antibiotic management exist as treatment options.Methods:We queried the Kid Inpatient Database identifying all cases of International Classification of Disease, ninth revision, clinical modification (ICD-9-CM) codes 478.22, parapharyngeal abscess (PPA), and 478.24, retropharyngeal abscess (RPA) for 2003, 2006, and 2009. Comparisons were made between population level estimates using Statistical Analysis Software.Results:The incidence (0-20yo) of both RPA (0.67 to 0.81/100000population) and PPA (1.46 to 1.84/100000) increased slightly. Males were more likely than females to be afflicted (60% vs 40%). The median age for RPA was younger (4yo vs 5yo, P < 0.001). Median total charges increased (for RPA $12217 to $14453, P <0.01, for PPA $13184 to $19177, P < 0.01) with no cost difference between them (P = 0...