Pott’s Puffy Tumor: A Case Series on a Rare Presentation in Healthy Children
Abstract
Background: Pott’s puffy tumor is a rare sinusitis complication requiring a high suspicion index, as early detection and treatment are crucial.
Case presentation: This case series presents two Saudi patients with pansinusitis complicated by Pott’s puffy tumor. The first case involved a 9-year-old boy who presented with a history of upper respiratory tract infection with high-grade fever for 5 days associated with headache, worsening frontal region swelling, and worsening left periorbital swelling. He was hospitalized and treated medically without surgical intervention. The second case involved a 10-year-old girl who presented with a right eye and forehead swelling associated with headaches for 5 days, preceded by upper respiratory tract infection and gastroenteritis symptoms for 2 weeks. She was hospitalized and treated both surgically and medically. Both patients were discharged after clinical improvement with oral antibiotics and close follow-up.
Conclusions: Although Pott’s puffy tumor is a rare complication of frontal sinusitis, clinicians should maintain a high index of suspicion as an intracranial extension is common. Moreover, the outcomes are favorable if discovered and managed early.
How strong is the evidence?
Evidence Hub reads this as a case series, done in people. Its evidence level is 5 of 5 (Very low · case / narrative / animal / in vitro / in silico). Case reports, narrative reviews, and animal, cell or computer-model studies give the weakest evidence for human health.
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