From Plate to Peril : Streptococcus Parasanguinis Retropharyngeal abscess following fish bone trauma in a boy

Retropharyngeal abscess (RPA) is a potentially life-threatening deep neck space infection commonly affecting young children, though it may also occur in older children following trauma or upper airway infections.Early diagnosis and prompt management are essential because of the risk of airway compromise and mediastinal spread.We report a 12-year-old boy who presented with fever, painful left infraauricular swelling, trismus, dysphagia, and restricted neck movements following accidental fish bone ingestion.Imaging revealed a left retropharyngeal abscess with surrounding inflammatory changes.Intraoperatively, an abscess within the left paravertebral muscle was identified and drained under general anaesthesia.Pus culture grew Streptococcus parasanguinis.