# An Idiopathic Sterile Thyroid Abscess in a Five-Year-Old Child

## TL;DR

A five-year-old child had a rare sterile thyroid abscess, highlighting the importance of considering this condition in neck swelling cases.

## Contribution

This case report presents a rare instance of an idiopathic sterile thyroid abscess in a child.

## Key findings

- The aspirated fluid from the abscess showed no bacterial growth, indicating it was sterile.
- Thyroid abscess should be considered in the differential diagnosis for severe neck swelling in children.
- Early detection of thyroid abscess is crucial to prevent complications.

## Abstract

We would like to share a case study of a five-year-old child who complained of a painful mass on the front of his neck, with a fever of 98°F. Sometimes thyroid abscesses may be overlooked due to their rarity and are lower down on our list of differential diagnoses. Neck ultrasonography confirmed our findings. A thorough analysis of the literature showed that causal bacteria are required for almost all abscesses. However, in our instance, the aspirated fluid culture revealed no growth, indicating that the abscess was sterile. When patients present with severe neck swelling, this case report emphasizes the significance of considering thyroid abscess as one of the differential diagnoses since early detection is critical to minimize the risk of complications.