Mycobacterium bohemicum cervical lymphadenitis
Astrid Palca1, Christoph Aebi, Rosemarie Weimann
1Institute for Infectious Diseases, University of Bern Bern, Switzerland.
The Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal
|October 29, 2002
Insights
A pediatric lymph node swelling was diagnosed as Mycobacterium bohemicum infection. This rare mycobacterial lymphadenitis highlights the importance of considering atypical infections in children.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Infectious Diseases
- Microbiology
- Histopathology
Background:
- Submandibular swelling in children can be challenging to diagnose.
- Cefaclor therapy is a common first-line treatment for bacterial lymphadenitis.
- Persistent or atypical presentations warrant further investigation.
Observation:
- A 2-year-old child presented with persistent right submandibular swelling.
- The swelling did not resolve with standard oral antibiotic treatment (Cefaclor).
- A lymph node excision was performed for diagnostic purposes.
Findings:
- Histopathology confirmed granulomatous, partly necrotizing lymphadenitis.
- A significant number of acid-fast bacilli were detected in the lymph node tissue.
- Molecular techniques identified the causative agent as Mycobacterium bohemicum.
Implications:
- Mycobacterium bohemicum is a rare cause of lymphadenitis in children.
- This case underscores the need for considering atypical mycobacterial infections in pediatric lymphadenopathy.
- Accurate identification through molecular methods is crucial for appropriate management of rare infections.
Abstract:
A lymph node excision was performed on a 2-year-old child with right submandibular swelling not responding to oral cefaclor therapy. Histology revealed granulomatous, partly necrotizing lymphadenitis and a large number of acid-fast bacilli subsequently identified by molecular techniques as Mycobacterium bohemicum.
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