Retropharyngeal abscess and acute torticollis

Acute torticollis may result from an inflammatory process irritating the cervical muscles. In children there is often an association between acute torticollis and retropharyngeal cellulitis/abscess. Over six weeks, two children with acute torticollis presented to our Department. Both children were found to have retropharyngeal cellulitis/abscess. The problem of differentiating between the non-suppurative and the suppurative phases of the disease process is discussed.