Infections of lymph nodes of the head and neck

Acute adenitis in children: Clinical course and factors predictive of surgical drainage

“…[27][28][29] Ruling out retropharyngeal infection is hence essential in children with adenitis who have signs and symptoms suggestive of deep neck infection, such as oropharyngeal pain, refusal to swallow solids or liquids, torticollis and muffled voice. 28 Infectious adenitis in children is often subdivided into three categories (acute unilateral, acute bilateral and chronic), 13,14 which are thought to have different etiologies and clinical evolution. Acute unilateral adenitis is described as being most often caused by bacterial infection (mainly due to S. aureus and S. pyogenes).…”

“…14 There is some imprecision pertaining to these distinctions. 13 Indeed, although subacute or chronic adenitis is usually described in terms of weeks, the term 'acute' has not been defined in published works. Moreover, early in the course of infection, subacute adenitis could be diagnosed as an acute process.…”

“…Moreover, early in the course of infection, subacute adenitis could be diagnosed as an acute process. 13 We considered adenitis present for 10 days or less before hospitalization as acute, given the fact that hospital admission is often the second step in the treatment of this type of infection. Of 183 patients with known course after discharge, only six were eventually diagnosed with 'atypical' infections deemed more characteristic of subacute adenitis (two with catscratch disease and four with atypical mycobacteria).…”

“…[3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12] Presentation commonly falls into one of three broad categories: acute unilateral pyogenic lymphadenitis; acute bilateral lymphadenitis and chronic lymphadenopathy. 13,14 Current management of adenitis in children has been described in a few review articles over the past two decades and is often based on empirical evidence. [13][14][15][16][17] Most children with acute adenitis will respond to initial oral empiric treatment with a β-lactamase-resistant antibiotic.…”

“…13,14 Current management of adenitis in children has been described in a few review articles over the past two decades and is often based on empirical evidence. [13][14][15][16][17] Most children with acute adenitis will respond to initial oral empiric treatment with a β-lactamase-resistant antibiotic. 17 Hospitalization is suggested for the subset of patients with systemic illness or marked lymph node disease.…”