Stiff neck, is it always neurological? Let’s think about something else

Authors:

Taberner Pazos B^a, Mañes Jiménez Y^b, Pedrón Marzal GM^c, Selfa Moreno S^d

^aMIR-Pediatría. Servicio de Pediatría. Hospital Lluís Alcanyís. Játiva, Valencia. España.
^bServicio de Pediatría. Hospital Lluís Alcanyís. Játiva, Valencia. España.
^cServicio de Pediatría. Hospital Lluís Alcanyís. Játiva, Valencia. España.
^dServicio de Radiología. Hospital Lluís Alcanyís. Játiva, Valencia. España.

Correspondence: B Taberner. Email: belentaberner@gmail.com

Reference of this article.:

Taberner Pazos B, Mañes Jiménez Y, Pedrón Marzal GM, Selfa Moreno S. Rigidez de nuca, ¿siempre neurológico? Pensemos algo más. Rev Pediatr Aten Primaria. 2020;22:175-80.

Published in Internet: 08/06/2020

Abstract:

Suppurative complications of untreated or improperly treated acute pharyngotonsillitis are uncommon. Because of its potential severity, retropharyngeal and parapharyngeal abscess are important. Due to their clinical presentation as a limitation of cervical mobility and/or neck stiffness in an infectious context, they can raise the initial suspicion of acute meningitis. For that, it is necessary for health professionals to know the clinical characteristics and the evolution of these complications, in order to act correctly, early and effectively, due to their potential severity. Below we present two cases of suppurative complications of the otorhinolaryngology area that debuted with a cervical clinic, either with neck stiffness or limited mobility, posing a diagnostic challenge.

Keywords: Meningism. Streptococcus. Parapharyngeal space. Tonsillitis. Retropharyngeal abscess.