Oropharyngeal abscesses with repeated health care visits - the characteristics in patients with odontogenic and peritonsillar abscesses.

Abstract

Purpose: Deep neck infection is a potentially life-threatening condition, and thus, early identification and treatment are essential. This study explored the diagnostic challenges and preceding treatment in patients with repeated healthcare contacts due to an odontogenic or a peritonsillar abscess.

Methods: A retrospective study of oropharyngeal abscesses in hospitalized patients was conducted. Included were inpatients with an odontogenic or a peritonsillar abscess during 2019. Excluded were patients with other infection type and patients with an odontogenic abscess preceded by tooth removal. The main outcome variable was repeated healthcare visit(s) due to the current infection prior to hospitalization. The primary predictor variable was source of infection. Explanatory variables comprised age, sex, duration of symptoms (days), clinical findings, and referring unit. Additional analyses were conducted for patients with repeated healthcare visits. Study groups were compared using Fisher's exact test, Student's t-test, test where appropriate. A 2 × 2 risk analysis was performed.

Results: Altogether 294 patients, 153 (52.0%) with an odontogenic abscess and 141 (48.0%) with a peritonsillar abscess, were included in the study. Source of infection was unidentified more often in patients with an odontogenic than a peritonsillar abscess (P < .001). In all, 106 patients (36.1%) had repeated healthcare visits prior to hospitalization, which was significantly associated with an odontogenic abscess (P = .039). Active intervention was conducted in only 34.0% of the patients with repeated healthcare visits.

Conclusions: Clinicians have challenges in recognizing a developing odontogenic abscess, which remains essential for prompt and effective surgical intervention.