We report a rare complication of nontyphoidal Salmonella infection in a 12-month-old girl with a retropharyngeal abscess. The patient presented with a four-day history of nasal congestion, cough, decreased oral intake, and increased irritability. She was admitted for a suspected deep neck infection. Computed tomography confirmed a retropharyngeal abscess with airway narrowing. Incision and drainage was performed, and intraoperative cultures grew nontyphoidal Salmonella. Epidemiologic investigation revealed exposure to a backyard flock of chickens. The patient had little direct contact with chickens but did go with family to collect eggs, riding on a vehicle that likely became contaminated. This case highlights the risks to infants and young children in contact with live poultry or contaminated environments.
Keywords: deep neck space abscess; extra-intestinal salmonellosis; nontyphoidal salmonella (nts); poultry diseases; retropharyngeal abscess.
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