Acute cervical lymphadenitis in hospitalized pediatric patients: predominance of Staphylococcus aureus in infancy.

Sixty-one cases of acute cervical lymphadenitis in Kings County Hospital Center were reviewed. Staphylococcus aureus accounted for 50 percent of the cases and Group A β-hemolytic streptococcus accounted for 15 percent; 35 percent had no growth on culture. Of the variables considered (age, sex, temperature, leukocytosis, previous antibiotic treatment, duration of symptoms, lymph node consistency) only age appeared to be a predictor of the causative organisms. Children under 1 year of age had a higher incidence of S aureus (65 percent) than children above 3 years of age (25 percent); the difference was statistically significant (P <.01). Therapeutic antimicrobial regimens should include coverage for S aureus in this age group.