Suppurative lymphadenitis
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Synopsis
Suppurative lymphadenitis is most commonly unilateral in presentation, whereas the majority of cases of acute cervical lymphadenitis (the most common location for acute lymphadenitis in children) are bilateral. Viral upper respiratory tract infections (most commonly) and streptococcal pharyngitis and are the primary causes of bilateral nonsuppurative lymphadenitis.
The most common bacterial causes of suppurative lymphadenitis are Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus pyogenes, accounting for between 40% and 89% of cases. Other infectious etiologies for consideration should include group B Streptococcus (in infants between 7 and 89 days old and in older patients with appropriate epidemiology), Yersinia, Bartonella henselae (cat-scratch disease), tuberculosis, toxoplasmosis, and lymphogranuloma venereum. Other less common causes of this disease include tularemia, herpes simplex virus (HSV), Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae, Bacillus anthracis, nocardia, sporotrichosis, and actinomycosis. This condition can affect both adults and children and cause both acute to subacute / chronic infections.
As mentioned above, in children, cervical lymph nodes are most often affected. The groin is another common area to have affected lymph nodes, particularly in adults.
Symptoms include asymmetric tender lymphadenopathy, overlying erythema, and drainage from the affected lymph node. Patients can also have fever and other manifestations of systemic infection. Ultrasonography can be used to assess for abscess formation and to guide fine needle biopsies. Treatment depends on the causative organism and includes oral or intravenous (IV) antibiotics, incision and drainage, or surgical excision of affected lymph nodes.
Codes
ICD10CM:L04.9 – Acute lymphadenitis, unspecified
SNOMEDCT:
48573006 – Suppurative lymphadenopathy
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Differential Diagnosis & Pitfalls
- Lymphoma
- Leukemia
- Metastatic disease
- Kikuchi disease
- Systemic lupus erythematosus
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Benign reactive lymphadenopathy
- Adult-onset Still disease
- Chronic granulomatous disease
- Cellulitis
- Upper respiratory tract infection (viral)
- Kawasaki disease
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Last Reviewed:04/30/2019
Last Updated:10/06/2022
Last Updated:10/06/2022