Table 4 Confirmed abscess source and preceding treatment for 106 patients with repeated healthcare visits

64

42

Age (yrs)

< 0.001*

 Min-max

12.9–87.8

9.4–89.3

 Mean

49.7

36.0

Sex

0.427**

 Male

36

57.1

27

42.9

 Female

28

65.1

15

34.9

Repeated healthcare visits before hospitalization

0.017*

 Min-max

1–4

1–3

 Mean

1.5

1.2

Source of abscess identified prior to final care

0.073**

 Yes

16

29.6

38

70.4

 No

48

92.3

4

7.7

Suspected cause of abscess°

< 0.001**

 Odontogenic

45

100.0

0

0.0

 Peritonsillar abscess or tonsillitis

1

35

 Salivary gland infection

10

100.0

0

0.0

 Tumor-suspicion

1

100.0

0

0.0

 Mononucleosis

0

0.0

4

0.0

 Paranasal sinus infection

1

100.0

0

0.0

 Other

6

66.7

3

33.3

Antibiotic treatment before hospitalization

0.301

 Yes

40

64.5

22

35.5

 No

24

54.6

20

45.4

Active intervention before hospitalization

< 0.001**

 Yes

31

86.1

5

13.9

 No

33

47.1

37

52.9

Extraoral swelling present

< 0.001**

 Yes

51

96.2

2

3.8

 No

12

23.1

40

76.9

Intraoral swelling present

< 0.001**

 Yes

48

53.3

42

46.7

 No

16

100.0

0

-

Swallowing difficulty

< 0.001**

 No

47

92.2

4

7.8

 Yes

17

30.9

38

69.1