Emergency Department Clinical Pathway for Evaluation/Treatment
of Children with a Suspected Deep Neck Space Infection

Signs/Symptoms Often Associated with Deep Neck Space Infection
(Retropharyngeal, Lateral pharyngeal, and Parapharyngeal abscess)
Critically Ill
Children who have been pretreated with antibiotics may have more subtle signs and symptoms
Negative Lateral Neck
Low Clinical Suspicion
Equivocal Lateral Neck or
Significant Clinical Suspicion
Positive Lateral Neck
ED attending may consider neck CT
as clinically indicated
Treatment as clinically indicated
Clinical Appearance
Non-toxic (Non-Severe)
Ill Appearing (Severe)
  • IV Antibiotics
  • CBC, blood culture, CRP
  • Admit to inpatient unit
  • Consider ENT consult after admission if clinically indicated
  • IV Antibiotics
  • CBC, blood culture, BMP, CRP
  • Consider admit to PICU
  • Immediate ENT consult
  • Urgent imaging
    • PICU/Critical Airway Team/ED
    • Discussion regarding sedation
Posted: February 2017
Last Revised:
October 2024
Authors: R. Abaya, MD; M. Joffe, MD; L. Vella, MD; M. Dunn, MD; S. MacFarland, MD; M. Rizzi, MD; K. Shekdar, MD; R. Bellah, MD; J. Lavelle, MD; E. Kitt, MD; E. Delgado, MD; K. Chiotos, MD; V. Kampalath, MD; T. Metjian, PharmD