title: [Thoracic actinomycosis: Thinking of it earlier?].
abstract: Thoracic actinomycosis is a rare disease, with high morbidity related to delayed diagnosis.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To identify and analyse paediatric thoracic actinomycosis to promote earlier diagnosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  A 10-year descriptive retrospective review (1999-2008). Clinical, biological, and radiological data were collected and compared to identify common signs.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Three patients were identified. The time to diagnosis varied from 4 months to 3 years. Fever, asthenia, pain, weight loss, and sweats were the most common complaints. A predisposing factor was systematically observed. Irregular subpleural nodules were revealed with an infiltrative aspect. Definitive diagnosis was always histological.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Actinomycosis should be sought in patients with asthenia and weight loss, local pain, when chest radiological evidence of distal nodules is observed with a non-specific biologic inflammatory syndrome. At this time, anaerobic bacteriological tests and histology should be performed.
authors: Pôle de l'urgence, urgences pédiatriques et maladies infectieuses, hôpital Roger-Salengro, CHRU de Lille, 2, avenue Oscar-Lambret, 59000 Lille, France.
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Faillon
authors: Pôle de l'urgence, urgences pédiatriques et maladies infectieuses, hôpital Roger-Salengro, CHRU de Lille, 2, avenue Oscar-Lambret, 59000 Lille, France; EA 2694, épidémiologie, santé publique et qualité des soins, université Lille-Nord-de-France, 59000 Lille, France.
authors: F
authors: F
authors: Dubos
authors: Pôle enfant, service de pneumo-pédiatrie, CHRU de Lille, 59000 Lille, France.
authors: C
authors: C
authors: Thumerelle
authors: Faculté de médecine, université de Lille-Nord-de-France, 59000 Lille, France; Laboratoire d'anatomopathologie, institut de Pathologie, CHRU de Lille, 59000 Lille, France.
authors: C-A
authors: CA
authors: Maurage
authors: Pôle de l'urgence, urgences pédiatriques et maladies infectieuses, hôpital Roger-Salengro, CHRU de Lille, 2, avenue Oscar-Lambret, 59000 Lille, France; EA 2694, épidémiologie, santé publique et qualité des soins, université Lille-Nord-de-France, 59000 Lille, France; Faculté de médecine, université de Lille-Nord-de-France, 59000 Lille, France.
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Martinot
mesh_terms: D000196:Actinomycosis / Q000175:diagnosis*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies