Patient: 5 1/2 month old girl
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Source: Hong Kong, 1970
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| Presenting features: |
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Acute inspiratory stridor x 1 day. |
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High swinging temperature, refused feeding x 2 days. |
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Toxic, cyanotic, drooling of saliva, fretful. |
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Fullness around upper neck + enlarged tender lymph nodes.
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| Relevant Investigations: |
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Radiograph showed: |
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Click to Enlarge
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Loss of cervical lordosis (probably due to para-spinal muscle spasm); increased
soft tissue swelling anterior to upper cervical spines with foreign bodies
( specks of fish bone ) + radio-lucent ( gas-forming infections ) patches
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| Diagnosis: |
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Retro-pharyngeal Abscess ( from fish-bone ).
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| Progress: |
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Child unfortunately succumbed, despite resuscitative and operative measures.
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| Lessons: |
| 1) |
Congee ( watery rice ) is a basic weaning
diet in Chinese. Fish is the most popular protein-source added to the congee. |
| 2) |
Foods containing bones should be carefully
screened or totally avoided for young infants. |