Table 4.
Clinical characteristics of children with TB lymphadenitis
| Lymph node characteristics | Total (%) N = 35 |
|---|---|
| Persistence (present for >4 wk, no response to antibiotics) | 35 (100) |
| Size | |
| <2 × 2 cm | 4 (11.4) |
| (2–4) × (2–4) cm | 25 (71.5) |
| >4 × 4 cm | 6 (17.1) |
| Character | |
| Single | 5 (14.3) |
| Multiple –discreet |
14 (40.0) |
| –matted | 16 (45.7) |
| Solid | 28 (80.0) |
| Fluctuant –without secondary bacterial infection |
5 (14.3) |
| –with secondary bacterial infection (red and warm) | 2 (5.7) |
| Associated findings | |
| Tuberculin skin test | |
| 0 mm | 2 (5.7) |
| 1–9 mm | 0 |
| ≥10 mm | 33 (94.3) |
| ≥15 mm | 32 (91.4) |
| Constitutional symptoms | |
| Any symptom | 21 (60.0) |
| Fever | 7 (20.0) |
| Cough | 9 (25.7) |
| Night sweats | 8 (22.8) |
| Fatigue | 19 (54.3) |
| Failure to thrive | 10 (28.6) |
| Chest radiograph | |
| Suggestive of tuberculosis | 13 (37.1) |
| Lymph node disease –uncomplicated |
8 (22.8) |
| – with airway compression | 1 (2.9) |
| – with parenchymal consolidation | 4 (11.4) |
Data adapted from Marais et al. 2006b.
Size, transverse diameter of the largest cervical mass; Fatigue, less playful and active since the mass was first noted; Failure to thrive, crossing at least one weight-for-age centile line in the preceding 3 mo or having lost >10% of body weight (≥1 kg) over any time interval.