Management of lymphadenitis in childhood: the role of percutaneous needle aspiration.
Bacterial lymphadenitis occurs commonly during childhood, but the preferred initial therapy has not been clearly established. We studied lymphadenitis in children to determine the course of patients with fluctuant and nonfluctuant infections, and to assess the role of percutaneous needle aspiration as a form of therapy. Of 32 patients diagnosed as having lymphadenitis, 30 were followed successfully (26 with initially nonfluctuant and four with initially fluctuant infections). Fluctuance subsequently developed in four of 26 lymph nodes that were initially firm to palpation. In all eight children with fluctuant lesions the infections were resolved following percutaneous needle aspiration and antibiotic therapy, and 25 of 26 with initially nonfluctuant infections were cured with antibiotic therapy alone or with antibiotics accompanied by percutaneous aspiration when fluctuance developed (four cases). Thus we recommend initial percutaneous aspiration for the treatment of lymphadenitis whenever abscess formation is detected clinically.
D000293:Adolescent; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000628:therapy*; D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008199:Lymphadenitis / Q000628:therapy*
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents