Lymphadenitis Follow-up

  • Author: Ulfat Shaikh, MD, MPH; Chief Editor: Russell W Steele, MD   more...
 
Updated: Apr 23, 2010
 

Further Inpatient Care

Contact the primary medical physician for follow-up care, coordination of care, and referrals in patients with lymphadenitis, if required. Contact a surgeon for procedures such as excision, incision, and drainage.

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Further Outpatient Care

Contact the primary care provider to ensure lesion resolution and treatment compliance.

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Complications

The following complications may occur:

  • Cellulitis
  • Suppuration
  • Systemic involvement
  • Internal jugular vein thrombosis
  • Septic embolic phenomena
  • Carotid artery rupture
  • Mediastinal abscess
  • Purulent pericarditis
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Prognosis

Prognosis depends on the etiology of the lymphadenopathy and when intervention is started. Infectious processes usually have better outcome if treatment is initiated early.

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Patient Education

Instruct patients and parents in the use and importance of medications and regular follow-up.

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Contributor Information and Disclosures
Author

Ulfat Shaikh, MD, MPH  Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, Department of Pediatrics, University of California Davis Medical Center

Ulfat Shaikh, MD, MPH is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Pediatrics and American Public Health Association

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Coauthor(s)

Dean A Blumberg MD  Associate Professor of Pediatrics, Section of Pediatric Infectious Disease, University of California Davis School of Medicine; Acting Chief, Section of Pediatric Infectious Disease, UC Davis Medical Center

Dean A Blumberg MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Pediatrics, American Society for Microbiology, American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, California Medical Association, Infectious Diseases Society of America, Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society, and Sierra Sacramento Valley Medical Society

Disclosure: Novartis Grant/research funds clinical research investigator; Merck speaking fees paid to university, not self Speaking and teaching; sanofi pasteur speaking fees paid to university, not self Speaking and teaching

Specialty Editor Board

Gary J Noel, MD  Department of Pediatrics, Clinical Associate Professor, Weill Medical College of Cornell University

Gary J Noel, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Mary L Windle, PharmD  Adjunct Associate Professor, University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Pharmacy; Pharmacy Editor, eMedicine

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Larry I Lutwick, MD  Professor of Medicine, State University of New York, Downstate Medical School; Director, Infectious Diseases, Veterans Affairs New York Harbor Health Care System, Brooklyn Campus

Larry I Lutwick, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Physicians and Infectious Diseases Society of America

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Robert W Tolan Jr, MD  Chief, Division of Allergy, Immunology and Infectious Diseases, The Children's Hospital at Saint Peter's University Hospital; Clinical Associate Professor of Pediatrics, Drexel University College of Medicine

Robert W Tolan Jr, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Pediatrics, American Medical Association, American Society for Microbiology, American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, Infectious Diseases Society of America, Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society, Phi Beta Kappa, and Physicians for Social Responsibility

Disclosure: GlaxoSmithKline Honoraria Speaking and teaching; MedImmune Honoraria Speaking and teaching; Merck Honoraria Speaking and teaching; sanofi pasteur Honoraria Speaking and teaching; Baxter Healthcare Honoraria Speaking and teaching; Novartis Honoraria Speaking and teaching

Chief Editor

Russell W Steele, MD  Head, Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Ochsner Children's Health Center; Clinical Professor, Department of Pediatrics, Tulane University School of Medicine

Russell W Steele, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Pediatrics, American Association of Immunologists, American Pediatric Society, American Society for Microbiology, Infectious Diseases Society of America, Louisiana State Medical Society, Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society, Society for Pediatric Research, and Southern Medical Association

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

References

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  2. Friedmann AM. Evaluation and management of lymphadenopathy in children. Pediatr Rev. Feb 2008;29(2):53-60. [Medline].

  3. Fraser L, Moore P, Kubba H. Atypical mycobacterial infection of the head and neck in children: a 5-year retrospective review. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. Mar 2008;138(3):311-4. [Medline].

  4. Guss J, Kazahaya K. Antibiotic-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in community-acquired pediatric neck abscesses. Int J Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol. Jun 2007;71(6):943-8. [Medline].

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  9. [Guideline] Newburger JW, Takahashi M, Gerber MA, et al. Diagnosis, treatment, and long-term management of Kawasaki disease: a statement for health professionals from the Committee on Rheumatic Fever, Endocarditis and Kawasaki Disease, Council on Cardiovascular Disease in the Young, American Heart Association. Circulation. Oct 26 2004;110(17):2747-71. [Medline].

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  17. Eriksson M, Bennet R, Danielsson N. Non-tuberculous mycobacterial lymphadenitis in healthy children: another "lifestyle disease"?. Acta Paediatr. Nov 2001;90(11):1340-2. [Medline].

  18. Green M. Lymphadenopathy. In: Pediatric Diagnosis. 5th ed. WB Saunders Co; 1992:393-7.

  19. Hazra R, Robson CD, Perez-Atayde AR, Husson RN. Lymphadenitis due to nontuberculous mycobacteria in children: presentation and response to therapy. Clin Infect Dis. Jan 1999;28(1):123-9. [Medline].

  20. Koybasi S, Saydam L, Gungen Y. Histiocytic necrotizing lymphadenitis of the neck. Am J Otolaryngol. Sep-Oct 2003;24(5):344-7. [Medline].

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  23. Thomas KT, Edwards KM. Periodic fever syndrome. Pediatr Infect Dis J. Jan 1999;18(1):68-9. [Medline].

 
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A lymph node biopsy is performed. Note that a marking pen has been used to outline the node before removal and that a silk suture has been used to provide traction to assist the removal.
 
 
 
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