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.
D000208:Acute Disease; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008199:Lymphadenitis / Q000382:microbiology*; D008297:Male; D009333:Neck; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000175:diagnosis*; D013290:Streptococcal Infections / Q000175:diagnosis*