Uncommon aetiology of lymphadenopathy in a healthy child: a sporotrichosis case with painless lymphadenopathy

Abstract

A 6-year-old boy was referred to the paediatric infectious disease clinic with a 2-month history of enlarged, erythematous, painless cervical lymph nodes. He initially presented to his paediatrician with a painless lesion. At that time, he was treated empirically with clindamycin and azithromycin due to a history of cat exposure. Despite treatment, the lesion evolved into a non-healing linear ulcer with painless, ascending cervical lymphadenopathy. Serologies were negative for Bartonella henselae antibodies. Additional laboratory studies revealed eosinophilia and negative Toxoplasma gondii antibodies. After no improvement following a course of trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, further questioning revealed that the patient had fallen into a haystack 1 month before the initial cervical lesion. The patient's parents opted to treat the infection empirically for sporotrichosis with itraconazole rather than undergo lymph node biopsy. At the 2-week follow-up, his lymphadenopathy had resolved and had returned to baseline activity.

Keywords: ear, nose and throat/otolaryngology; infectious diseases; paediatrics.

Figure 1

Photograph of ulcerous lesion at first visit to infectious disease clinic.