Trends in the management of peritonsillar abscess in children: A nationwide population-based study in Taiwan
Journal
International Journal of Pediatric Otorhinolaryngology
Journal Volume
125
Pages
32-37
Date Issued
2019
Author(s)
Abstract
Objective: Population-based studies analyzing peritonsillar abscess in children are lacking. In this study, a population-based survey of the epidemiology of pediatric peritonsillar abscess in Taiwan was conducted. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted using the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database. All cases of inpatient pediatric peritonsillar abscess (age < 18 years) in Taiwan between 2000 and 2012 were identified using the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification. Incidence rates of inpatient peritonsillar abscess in children were calculated. Characteristics such as age, gender, hospital level, treatment modalities, imaging studies, drug administration, and length of hospital stays during the study period were analyzed. Results: A total of 12,965 children with peritonsillar abscess were included (mean age, 6.6 years [standard deviation, 4.8 years]; 56.5% boys). The overall incidence was 18 per 100,000 children. Incidence rates decreased from 2000 to 2012 (19.1/100,000 to 8.3/100,000 children) (ptrend < 0.001). During the study period, the proportion of peritonsillar abscess treatments at medical centers increased from 4.6% to 15.0%. The proportion of treatments involving incision and drainage or needle aspiration increased significantly (1.3%–4.1% and 49.4%–65.6%, respectively), whereas treatments with antibiotics only decreased significantly (48.9%–29.0%). The use of computed tomography (CT) increased (1.4%–12%, ptrend < 0.001). The use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, steroids, and penicillin increased during the study period. The mean length of hospital stays increased from 3.78 to 4.67 days. Conclusions: The incidence of peritonsillar abscess in children decreased between 2000 and 2012 in Taiwan. Moreover, increasing trends were observed in the use of CT, the rates of incision and drainage and needle aspiration procedures, and the length of hospital stay in this study cohort. ? 2019 Elsevier B.V.
SDGs
Other Subjects
nonsteroid antiinflammatory agent; penicillin derivative; steroid; antiinfective agent; antiinflammatory agent; corticosteroid; abscess drainage; age; Article; child; cohort analysis; computer assisted tomography; cross-sectional study; female; fine needle aspiration biopsy; gender; health survey; hospitalization; human; human tissue; ICD-9; incidence; incision; length of stay; major clinical study; male; medical parameters; peritonsillar abscess; priority journal; Taiwan; trend study; adolescent; infant; paracentesis; peritonsillar abscess; preschool child; x-ray computed tomography; Adolescent; Adrenal Cortex Hormones; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Anti-Inflammatory Agents; Child; Child, Preschool; Cross-Sectional Studies; Drainage; Female; Humans; Incidence; Infant; Length of Stay; Male; Paracentesis; Penicillins; Peritonsillar Abscess; Taiwan; Tomography, X-Ray Computed
Publisher
Elsevier Ireland Ltd
Type
journal article