Pediatric abscess incidence may be higher postpandemic
Head and neck abscess incidence was more than 3-fold higher following the pandemic, while patient characteristics and treatment patterns remained largely similar.
By
Andrea Surnit
September 11, 2026
Clinical Scorecard: Pediatric abscess incidence may be higher postpandemic
At a Glance
Category Detail
Condition Pediatric head and neck abscesses Key Mechanisms Increased incidence observed postpandemic without significant changes in demographics or treatment characteristics. Target Population Patients aged 18 years or younger with head and neck abscesses Care Setting Pediatric emergency departments
Key Highlights
Postpandemic incidence of head and neck abscesses was 3.28-fold higher than prepandemic. Incidence increased across various abscess types including cervical lymphadenitis and peritonsillar abscess. No new dominant pathogens identified; common organisms included Streptococcus species and Staphylococcus aureus. Clinical management remained largely similar across all periods studied. Inpatient mortality was 0% across all study periods. Guideline-Based Recommendations
Diagnosis
Clinically or radiographically confirm head and neck abscesses. Management
Prompt recognition and management of pediatric infections. Monitoring & Follow-up
Ongoing surveillance of pediatric head and neck abscess incidence. Risks
Potential for increased incidence in postpandemic settings. Patient & Prescribing Data
194 patients aged 18 years or younger with confirmed head and neck abscesses.
No significant differences in time to antibiotic therapy or surgical intervention across periods.
Clinical Best Practices
Maintain awareness of increased incidence of pediatric head and neck abscesses postpandemic. Consider similar management protocols across different periods. Related Resources & Content
