title: Tuberculosis lymphadenitis in a southeastern region in Tunisia: Epidemiology, clinical features, diagnosis and treatment.
abstract: To evaluate patients' profiles, demographics, clinical and therapeutic approaches and strategies in patients with tuberculous lymphadenitis (TBG).
  
  
  
  A retrospective study of all TBG-confirmed cases admitted in a tuberculosis-specific health care facility between 1 January 2009 and 16 June 2013.
  
  
  
  A total of 181 clinical files were examined. Mean age was 32years old; the female/male ratio was 1.78 to 1. Raw milk consumption was noted in 1/3 of patients. Most cases involved the head and neck region (83.4%), nodes involvement, including axillary (12 cases), and mediastinal (9 cases). Clinical symptoms were present in only 55.2%. Tuberculin skin test (TST) was conducted with 82.6% positive responses. Diagnostics confirmation was done with anatomical pathology in most of the patients; only 56 of them had any microbiology analysis done. Demonstration of acid-fast bacilli in microscopy from either fine-needle aspirates or biopsies was done in 17.5% of cases, and cultures yielded positive results in 27%. Treatment duration was varied. Paradoxical reactions were noted in 12% and persistent lymphadenopathy after treatment completion was noted in 10% of cases.
  
  
  
  TBG remains a disease of interest. Today, its diagnosis and management is still a problem despite its increasing worldwide incidence, and especially in this study area. Disease control should be strengthened in this country.
authors.affiliation: Regional Laboratory of Hygiene, Tunisia; Faculty of Pharmacy, Monastir, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Salma
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Smaoui
authors.affiliation: Regional Laboratory of Hygiene, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Mohamed Amine
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Mezghanni
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases, CHU Hedi Chaker, Sfax, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Bousaima
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Hammami
authors.affiliation: Department of Care and Basic Health, Sfax, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Neila
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Zalila
authors.affiliation: Regional Laboratory of Hygiene, Tunisia; Faculty of Pharmacy, Monastir, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Chema
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Marouane
authors.affiliation: Regional Laboratory of Hygiene, Tunisia; Faculty of Pharmacy, Monastir, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Sana
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kammoun
authors.affiliation: Department Oto-Rhino-Laryngology, CHU Habib Bourguiba, Sfax, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Abdelmonoom
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ghorbel
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases, CHU Hedi Chaker, Sfax, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Mounir
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ben Jemaa
authors.affiliation: Regional Laboratory of Hygiene, Tunisia; Faculty of Pharmacy, Monastir, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Férièle
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Messadi-Akrout
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000818:Animals; D001365:Axilla / Q000473:pathology; D044963:Biopsy, Fine-Needle; D002417:Cattle; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000473:pathology; D000072281:Lymphadenopathy / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D008482:Mediastinum / Q000473:pathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D008892:Milk / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000382:microbiology; D009333:Neck / Q000473:pathology; D061352:Pasteurization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D066256:Raw Foods / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000382:microbiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014374:Tuberculin Test; D014388:Tuberculosis, Lymph Node / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D014416:Tunisia / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Epidemiology; Microbiology; Treatment; Tuberculous lymphadenitis; Tunisia