A Review of Deep Neck Space Infections: Perspective from a Sub-Saharan African Center

Moses Ikechukwu Ajaero; Samuel Uchechukwu Nduagu; Chidiebere Peter Echieh; Raphael Arinze Onyekwelu

doi:doi:10.11648/j.js.20200806.15

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A Review of Deep Neck Space Infections: Perspective from a Sub-Saharan African Center

Moses Ikechukwu Ajaero, Samuel Uchechukwu Nduagu, Chidiebere Peter Echieh, Raphael Arinze Onyekwelu

Published in Journal of Surgery (Volume 8, Issue 6)

Received: 19 October 2020 Accepted: 28 October 2020 Published: 27 November 2020

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Abstract

Deep neck space infections (DNSI) are inflammation often with abscess collection within potential fascial spaces in the head and neck region. The incidence of DNSIs is relatively higher in populations of low socioeconomic status This study aimed at analyzing the pattern of presentation and management of DNSIs seen at our facility over 10 years. Data were extracted from patients’ case notes and medical records. A total of 72 patients (47 males and 25 females) were studied with a Male to Female ratio of 1.88:1. The patients’ ages ranged from 4years to 80 years with mean age of 46.2±21.3 years. the commonest presenting complaints were pain (95.8%), dysphagia (81.9%) and odynophagia (70.8%). The mean duration of complaints prior to presentation was 10.9±4.1days. Majority of the DNSIs were of odontogenic origin (56.9%) and diabetes mellitus (26.4%) was the most commonly encountered co-morbid condition. Submandibular and sublingual infections were the most common (40.3%) followed by peritonsillar space infections (23.6%) and retropharyngeal and prevertebral space infections (16.7%). S. aureus (15.3%) was the most commonly isolated organism among the rest with the infection being polymicrobial in 33.3% of the patients. The commonest complications were septicaemia (18.1%), necrotizing fasciitis (12.4%) and mediastinitis (2.8%). In Sub-Saharan Africa, DNSIs can affect all age groups; appear to have more morbidity in people with low socioeconomic class and co-morbidities. They can be managed with a combination of incision and drainage and intravenous antibiotics. Attention to oro-dental hygiene may help reduce the incidence of DNSI as majority are found to be linked with odontogenic and pharyngo-tonsillar conditions.

Published in	Journal of Surgery (Volume 8, Issue 6)
DOI	10.11648/j.js.20200806.15
Page(s)	197-203
Creative Commons	This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright	Copyright © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Deep Neck Space, Infection, Sub-Saharan Africa

References

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APA Style

Moses Ikechukwu Ajaero, Samuel Uchechukwu Nduagu, Chidiebere Peter Echieh, Raphael Arinze Onyekwelu. (2020). A Review of Deep Neck Space Infections: Perspective from a Sub-Saharan African Center. Journal of Surgery, 8(6), 197-203. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.js.20200806.15

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ACS Style

Moses Ikechukwu Ajaero; Samuel Uchechukwu Nduagu; Chidiebere Peter Echieh; Raphael Arinze Onyekwelu. A Review of Deep Neck Space Infections: Perspective from a Sub-Saharan African Center. J. Surg. 2020, 8(6), 197-203. doi: 10.11648/j.js.20200806.15

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AMA Style

Moses Ikechukwu Ajaero, Samuel Uchechukwu Nduagu, Chidiebere Peter Echieh, Raphael Arinze Onyekwelu. A Review of Deep Neck Space Infections: Perspective from a Sub-Saharan African Center. J Surg. 2020;8(6):197-203. doi: 10.11648/j.js.20200806.15

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@article{10.11648/j.js.20200806.15,
  author = {Moses Ikechukwu Ajaero and Samuel Uchechukwu Nduagu and Chidiebere Peter Echieh and Raphael Arinze Onyekwelu},
  title = {A Review of Deep Neck Space Infections: Perspective from a Sub-Saharan African Center},
  journal = {Journal of Surgery},
  volume = {8},
  number = {6},
  pages = {197-203},
  doi = {10.11648/j.js.20200806.15},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.js.20200806.15},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.js.20200806.15},
  abstract = {Deep neck space infections (DNSI) are inflammation often with abscess collection within potential fascial spaces in the head and neck region. The incidence of DNSIs is relatively higher in populations of low socioeconomic status This study aimed at analyzing the pattern of presentation and management of DNSIs seen at our facility over 10 years. Data were extracted from patients’ case notes and medical records. A total of 72 patients (47 males and 25 females) were studied with a Male to Female ratio of 1.88:1. The patients’ ages ranged from 4years to 80 years with mean age of 46.2±21.3 years. the commonest presenting complaints were pain (95.8%), dysphagia (81.9%) and odynophagia (70.8%). The mean duration of complaints prior to presentation was 10.9±4.1days. Majority of the DNSIs were of odontogenic origin (56.9%) and diabetes mellitus (26.4%) was the most commonly encountered co-morbid condition. Submandibular and sublingual infections were the most common (40.3%) followed by peritonsillar space infections (23.6%) and retropharyngeal and prevertebral space infections (16.7%). S. aureus (15.3%) was the most commonly isolated organism among the rest with the infection being polymicrobial in 33.3% of the patients. The commonest complications were septicaemia (18.1%), necrotizing fasciitis (12.4%) and mediastinitis (2.8%). In Sub-Saharan Africa, DNSIs can affect all age groups; appear to have more morbidity in people with low socioeconomic class and co-morbidities. They can be managed with a combination of incision and drainage and intravenous antibiotics. Attention to oro-dental hygiene may help reduce the incidence of DNSI as majority are found to be linked with odontogenic and pharyngo-tonsillar conditions.},
 year = {2020}
}

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TY - JOUR
T1 - A Review of Deep Neck Space Infections: Perspective from a Sub-Saharan African Center
AU - Moses Ikechukwu Ajaero
AU - Samuel Uchechukwu Nduagu
AU - Chidiebere Peter Echieh
AU - Raphael Arinze Onyekwelu
Y1 - 2020/11/27
PY - 2020
N1 - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.js.20200806.15
DO - 10.11648/j.js.20200806.15
T2 - Journal of Surgery
JF - Journal of Surgery
JO - Journal of Surgery
SP - 197
EP - 203
PB - Science Publishing Group
SN - 2330-0930
UR - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.js.20200806.15
AB - Deep neck space infections (DNSI) are inflammation often with abscess collection within potential fascial spaces in the head and neck region. The incidence of DNSIs is relatively higher in populations of low socioeconomic status This study aimed at analyzing the pattern of presentation and management of DNSIs seen at our facility over 10 years. Data were extracted from patients’ case notes and medical records. A total of 72 patients (47 males and 25 females) were studied with a Male to Female ratio of 1.88:1. The patients’ ages ranged from 4years to 80 years with mean age of 46.2±21.3 years. the commonest presenting complaints were pain (95.8%), dysphagia (81.9%) and odynophagia (70.8%). The mean duration of complaints prior to presentation was 10.9±4.1days. Majority of the DNSIs were of odontogenic origin (56.9%) and diabetes mellitus (26.4%) was the most commonly encountered co-morbid condition. Submandibular and sublingual infections were the most common (40.3%) followed by peritonsillar space infections (23.6%) and retropharyngeal and prevertebral space infections (16.7%). S. aureus (15.3%) was the most commonly isolated organism among the rest with the infection being polymicrobial in 33.3% of the patients. The commonest complications were septicaemia (18.1%), necrotizing fasciitis (12.4%) and mediastinitis (2.8%). In Sub-Saharan Africa, DNSIs can affect all age groups; appear to have more morbidity in people with low socioeconomic class and co-morbidities. They can be managed with a combination of incision and drainage and intravenous antibiotics. Attention to oro-dental hygiene may help reduce the incidence of DNSI as majority are found to be linked with odontogenic and pharyngo-tonsillar conditions.
VL - 8
IS - 6
ER -

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Author Information

Moses Ikechukwu Ajaero

Departments of ENT and Surgery, Federal Medical Centre, Owerri, Nigeria
Samuel Uchechukwu Nduagu

Departments of ENT and Surgery, Federal Medical Centre, Owerri, Nigeria
Chidiebere Peter Echieh

Departments of ENT and Surgery, Federal Medical Centre, Owerri, Nigeria; Department of Surgery, University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, University of Calabar, Calabar, Nigeria
Raphael Arinze Onyekwelu

Departments of ENT and Surgery, Federal Medical Centre, Owerri, Nigeria

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Moses Ikechukwu Ajaero, Samuel Uchechukwu Nduagu, Chidiebere Peter Echieh, Raphael Arinze Onyekwelu. (2020). A Review of Deep Neck Space Infections: Perspective from a Sub-Saharan African Center. Journal of Surgery, 8(6), 197-203. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.js.20200806.15

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ACS Style

Moses Ikechukwu Ajaero; Samuel Uchechukwu Nduagu; Chidiebere Peter Echieh; Raphael Arinze Onyekwelu. A Review of Deep Neck Space Infections: Perspective from a Sub-Saharan African Center. J. Surg. 2020, 8(6), 197-203. doi: 10.11648/j.js.20200806.15

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AMA Style

Moses Ikechukwu Ajaero, Samuel Uchechukwu Nduagu, Chidiebere Peter Echieh, Raphael Arinze Onyekwelu. A Review of Deep Neck Space Infections: Perspective from a Sub-Saharan African Center. J Surg. 2020;8(6):197-203. doi: 10.11648/j.js.20200806.15

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@article{10.11648/j.js.20200806.15,
  author = {Moses Ikechukwu Ajaero and Samuel Uchechukwu Nduagu and Chidiebere Peter Echieh and Raphael Arinze Onyekwelu},
  title = {A Review of Deep Neck Space Infections: Perspective from a Sub-Saharan African Center},
  journal = {Journal of Surgery},
  volume = {8},
  number = {6},
  pages = {197-203},
  doi = {10.11648/j.js.20200806.15},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.js.20200806.15},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.js.20200806.15},
  abstract = {Deep neck space infections (DNSI) are inflammation often with abscess collection within potential fascial spaces in the head and neck region. The incidence of DNSIs is relatively higher in populations of low socioeconomic status This study aimed at analyzing the pattern of presentation and management of DNSIs seen at our facility over 10 years. Data were extracted from patients’ case notes and medical records. A total of 72 patients (47 males and 25 females) were studied with a Male to Female ratio of 1.88:1. The patients’ ages ranged from 4years to 80 years with mean age of 46.2±21.3 years. the commonest presenting complaints were pain (95.8%), dysphagia (81.9%) and odynophagia (70.8%). The mean duration of complaints prior to presentation was 10.9±4.1days. Majority of the DNSIs were of odontogenic origin (56.9%) and diabetes mellitus (26.4%) was the most commonly encountered co-morbid condition. Submandibular and sublingual infections were the most common (40.3%) followed by peritonsillar space infections (23.6%) and retropharyngeal and prevertebral space infections (16.7%). S. aureus (15.3%) was the most commonly isolated organism among the rest with the infection being polymicrobial in 33.3% of the patients. The commonest complications were septicaemia (18.1%), necrotizing fasciitis (12.4%) and mediastinitis (2.8%). In Sub-Saharan Africa, DNSIs can affect all age groups; appear to have more morbidity in people with low socioeconomic class and co-morbidities. They can be managed with a combination of incision and drainage and intravenous antibiotics. Attention to oro-dental hygiene may help reduce the incidence of DNSI as majority are found to be linked with odontogenic and pharyngo-tonsillar conditions.},
 year = {2020}
}

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