Cervicofacial lymphadenitis in children

Abstract

Introduction. Currently, there is a change in the clinical manifestations of nonspecific cervicofacial lymphadenitis in children due to the irrational use of antibiotic therapy; decrease resistance to infections; change in properties and strengthen the aggressiveness of pyogenic pathogenic microflora. An imposing number of latent forms is observed, although there is also a tendency to increase the number of purulent lymphadenitis, which makes it difficult to diagnose the inflammatory process in time. Late addressing or not addressing parents with minor children to the prophylactic consultation of the dentist is also a major problem in our society. Children in rural areas suffer the most due to the lack of dental offices. Objective of the study: analysis of epidemiological and clinical data of cervicofacial lymphadenitis in children aged 1-17 years. Materials and methods. A statistical analysis study was conducted of 268 observation sheets of patients who addressed IMSP IM and Clinic „Emilian Coțaga”, between 01.01.2020 – 31.12.22 with the diagnosis of cervico-facial lymphadenitis. Results. Analyzing the data obtained, it was found a higher frequency in the age category between 0-3 years, unlike the specialized literature, which reports a prevalence in children aged 3-5 years. There was a preponderance of patients from rural areas, 58% against 42% urban. This is probably due to the lack of stationary facilities in rural areas. After localization of the inflammatory process of the lymph nodes a higher incidence is of submandibular (about 41%) and cervical (about 30%) lymphadenitis, which corresponds to the data of the literature. In 81 patients was established the diagnosis of acute serous lymphadenitis (30%), in 182 of them – acute purulent lymphadenitis (68%), in 5 patients chronic lymphadenitis (2%). Conclusions. Ensuring the quality of dental care for children must be one of the priorities of the health system, but also the development of personal skills regarding the management of cervicofacial lymphadenitis in children, which includes diagnosis, treatment and last but not least prophylaxis. Lymph node damage is rarely a primary disease, more often it occurs as a reaction to the spread of infection from a primary focus. Lymphadenitis is one of the early symptoms of many infectious, allergic, oncological, system, etc. diseases