Jerome A Lindeboom1. 1. Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam and Amstelland Hospital, Amstelveen, The Netherlands. Electronic address: J.a.lindeboom@amc.uva.nl.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Chronic cervicofacial lymphadenitis in children is often caused by nontuberculous mycobacterium or Bartonella henselae species (known as cat scratch disease). METHODS:Bartonella henselae infection was diagnosed in 53 of 427 children with cervicofacial lymphadenopathy by polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS:The age of patients ranged from 16 to 148 months (median, 59 months), 28 (53%) were male, and 25 were female (47%). The submandibular lymph nodes were most commonly affected (92%). Patients were not treated with antibiotics. In 11 (21%) patients, aspiration of pus was performed to facilitate drainage, which led to a mean resolution of 5 ± 3.1 months compared with a mean resolution time of 8.2 ± 3.8 months for 40 patients treated with a wait-and-see policy (P = .01). CONCLUSIONS: Bartonella henselae is a common pathogen in children with chronic cervicofacial lymphadenitis. Treatment usually involves a wait-and-see approach, but in selected cases, aspiration may be needed for symptomatic relief.
RCT Entities:
BACKGROUND:Chronic cervicofacial lymphadenitis in children is often caused by nontuberculous mycobacterium or Bartonella henselae species (known as cat scratch disease). METHODS:Bartonella henselae infection was diagnosed in 53 of 427 children with cervicofacial lymphadenopathy by polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS: The age of patients ranged from 16 to 148 months (median, 59 months), 28 (53%) were male, and 25 were female (47%). The submandibular lymph nodes were most commonly affected (92%). Patients were not treated with antibiotics. In 11 (21%) patients, aspiration of pus was performed to facilitate drainage, which led to a mean resolution of 5 ± 3.1 months compared with a mean resolution time of 8.2 ± 3.8 months for 40 patients treated with a wait-and-see policy (P = .01). CONCLUSIONS:Bartonella henselae is a common pathogen in children with chronic cervicofacial lymphadenitis. Treatment usually involves a wait-and-see approach, but in selected cases, aspiration may be needed for symptomatic relief.