Abstract

BERBERIAN, Griselda; SANTILLAN ITURREZ, Alejandro; CASIMIR, Lidia  and  ROSANOVA, María Teresa. Linfadenitis por micobacterias en pediatría. Arch. argent. pediatr. [online]. 2005, vol.103, n.1, pp.63-66. ISSN 0325-0075.

Lymphadenitis is a common problem in children and adolescents. Mycobacteria are an important cause of lymphadenitis. In the USA and Europe, lymphadenitis due to atypical mycobacteria are more common in children younger than 5 years old. It is important to assess the epidemiology of mycobacterial lymphadenitis for every country. Population, material and methods. All patients admitted to the Hospital de Pediatría J.P. Garrahan from January 1989 to December 2001, between one month and 18 years of age, with lymphadenitis with positive cultures for mycobacteria were included. Results. Twenty nine patients were included. Seventy percent were female. The median age was 101 months (r: 7-228 months). 24 patients (83%) were normal hosts. Systemic syntoms were present in 15 (52%). The median time from the onset of the disease to diagnosis was 60 days. Sixteen patients had received previous antibiotics. Cervical localization was seen most frequently in 22 patients (75%). Lung involvment was detected in 15 (94%). PPD was positive in 12 (41%). VSG was accelerated in 21 patients (73%). Complete excision of the enlarged lymph node was performed in 23 patients (80%), and needle biopsy in 6. In 21 (72%), the causative Mycobacterium could be cultured in the lymph node alone. Mycobacterium tuberculosis was isolated in 25 patients (86%). All strains were sensitive to first-line drugs. Mycobacterium aviumintracellulare was isolated in 3 patients. Outcome was good in all cases. Conclusions. Cervical localization was the most frequent. Mycobacterium tuberculosis was the most common pathogen in all ages.

Keywords : Tuberculosis; Lymphadenitis; Children.

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