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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

  • 4 min

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  • 1

    Pediatric head and neck abscess incidence increased over threefold postpandemic compared to prepandemic levels.

  • 2

    The study analyzed 194 patients aged 18 years or younger treated for head and neck abscesses from 2017 to 2024.

  • 3

    Incidence rates rose from 3.34 cases per 10,000 ED patients prepandemic to 10.95 postpandemic.

  • 4

    No significant differences in patient demographics or clinical management were found across the study periods.

  • 5

    The study's limitations include geographic constraints and the inability to establish causality for the observed increase.

Original Source(s)

Pediatric abscess incidence may be higher postpandemic

  • by Andrea Surnit

  • September 11, 2026

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