Biederman G R, Dodson T B
Department of Surgery, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA.
J Oral Maxillofac Surg. 1994 Oct;52(10):1042-5. doi: 10.1016/0278-2391(94)90172-4.
Pediatric facial infections are quite variable in clinical behavior, making early diagnosis and treatment challenging. To better understand and manage these infections, we conducted a retrospective study.
The cohort consisted of 143 pediatric patients (age < 15 years) admitted to Grady Memorial Hospital (Atlanta, GA) with facial infections. Data concerning patient demographics, source and location of infection, culture results, and treatment modalities were evaluated.
Eighty-one percent (n = 116) had lower face infections (LFI). Children with UFI were younger, had more acute symptoms, and an elevated white blood cell count. The source of infection was commonly unknown and there was a wide variability of cultured organisms. Children with LFI were generally older, with symptoms of a more chronic nature. The source of infection could frequently be identified and the types of organisms cultured were less variable. Children with UFI were usually treated with antibiotics alone while children with LFI were more likely to require an operation to resolve the infection.
Study results lend support to our clinical hypothesis developed in earlier studies that location of infection may be a useful variable that aids in the early diagnosis and management of pediatric facial infections.
小儿面部感染的临床症状变化很大，这使得早期诊断和治疗颇具挑战性。为了更好地了解和处理这些感染，我们进行了一项回顾性研究。
该队列由143例因面部感染入住格雷迪纪念医院（佐治亚州亚特兰大）的小儿患者（年龄<15岁）组成。评估了有关患者人口统计学、感染源和部位、培养结果及治疗方式的数据。
81%（n = 116）的患者患有下面部感染（LFI）。患有上面部感染（UFI）的儿童年龄更小，症状更急性，白细胞计数升高。感染源通常不明，培养出的微生物种类差异很大。患有LFI的儿童一般年龄较大，症状性质更具慢性特点。感染源通常能够确定，培养出的微生物类型差异较小。患有UFI的儿童通常仅接受抗生素治疗，而患有LFI的儿童更有可能需要手术来解决感染问题。
研究结果支持了我们在早期研究中提出的临床假设，即感染部位可能是有助于小儿面部感染早期诊断和处理的一个有用变量。
