Treating tuberculous lymphadenitis--ifs and buts.

• Abstract: Treatment of tuberculous (TB) lymphadenitis is virtually a specialist's job due to multiple aetiopathological factors. Diagnosis is difficult often requiring biopsy for several times. Treatment monitoring is more complex due to peculiar behaviour of TB lymph nodes. Situation has become worse due to sharp increase in the incidence of atypical mycobacteria. Due to profound improvement in antibiotic action, life-expectancy of immuno-compromised patients has also increased along with increased incidence of atypical mycobacteria in them. Clarithromycin, ethambutol, rifabutin and amikacin seem to act best on atypical mycobacteria-induced lymphadenitis. Along with rise of multi-drug resistance (MDR), drug-resistant TB lymphadenitis cases are also on the rise.
• Authors: Sumita Mukherjee, Supriyo Sarkar (Affiliation: Department of TB and Respiratory Diseases, Calcutta National Medical College & Hospital, Calcutta.)
• Journal: Journal of the Indian Medical Association (J Indian Med Assoc) Vol. 101 Issue 1 Pg. 16-7, 23 (Jan 2003) ISSN: 0019-5847 [Print] India
• PMID: 12841501 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Review)

Chemical References

• Antitubercular Agents

Topics

• Antitubercular Agents (therapeutic use)
• Drug Therapy, Combination
• Humans
• Lymphadenitis (drug therapy, microbiology, surgery)
• Mycobacterium Infections, Atypical (drug therapy, surgery)
• Tuberculosis, Lymph Node (drug therapy, surgery)
• Tuberculosis, Multidrug-Resistant (drug therapy, surgery)