SPECIFIC AND NONSPECIFIC LYMPHADENITIS IN CHILDHOOD - ETIOLOGY, DIAGNOSIS, AND THERAPY

Over a period of 4 years, 39 children with lymphadenitis were treated surgically; in 31 cases cervical lymph nodes were the main location. I n 9 cases the lymphadenitis was caused by mycobacterial infection. Sta phylococcus aureus was the most frequent causative organism of unspeci fic lymphadenitis (11 cases). The therapy of choice appears to be surg ical treatment and medical care after operation. Especially in mycobac terial lymphadenitis, complete surgical excision of the lymph node is decisive for definitive healing. There was only 1 case of therapy-resi stant, relapsing cervical lymphadenitis that needed a second operation . Causative organisms in this case were Mycobacterium avium and Mycoba cterium intracellulare. All other patients showed an uneventful postop erative clinical course. We believe that a consequent diagnostic proce ss and cooperation between the pediatric surgeon and pediatrician are necessary for effective therapy.