Abstract
Anaerobes are the predominant components of oropharyngeal mucous membranes bacterial
flora, and are therefore a common cause of bacterial infections of endogenous origin
of upper respiratory tract and head and neck in children. This review summarizes the
aerobic and anaerobic microbiology and antimicrobial therapy of acute and chronic
upper respiratory tract infection and other head and neck infections. These infections
include acute and chronic otitis media, mastoiditis and sinusitis, pharyngo-tonsillitis,
peritonsillar, retropharyngeal and parapharyngeal abscesses, suppurative thyroiditis,
cervical lymphadenitis, parotitis, siliadenitis, and deep neck infections including
Lemierre syndrome. The recovery from these infections depends on prompt and proper
medical and when indicated also surgical management.
Keywords
Upper respiratory tract infection - anaerobes -
Haemophilus influenzae
- abscess - antimicrobials
