A six-year-old boy presented with fever, neck pain, and ear pain. Within days, the motility of his neck limited, his temperature rose, and blood samples showed signs of infection. On suspicion of cervical spondylodiscitis, a bone scintigraphy was performed, but gave negative results. A magnetic resonance imaging of the neck area showed results, which led to the diagnosis of a retropharyngeal abscess. This case is a reminder that retropharyngeal abscess poses a diagnostic challenge for the physician, and that the prognosis is potentially serious.