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Tuberculosis
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Tuberculous lymphadenitis (scrofula)
Credits
Pediatric AIDS Pictoral Atlas, Baylor International Pediatric AIDS Initiative
Description
An 8-year-old HIV-infected boy with tuberculous lymphadenitis (scrofula). Copious amounts of pus spontaneously drained from this lesion. In an immunocompromised child, other causes of lymphadenitis include infections with gram-positive bacteria, atypical Mycobacterium , and Bartonella henselae (catscratch disease); malignancies such as lymphoma; masses such as branchial cleft cysts or cystic hygromas masquerading as lymph nodes; and adenitis due to HIV itself.