Cervical lynphadenitis secondary to a nontuberculous mycobacterium

The incidence of pathology due nontuberculous mycobacterium have increased during the last years, not only in inmunodepressed children, perhaps to the best knowledge of pediatricians to the manifestation and diagnosis of such infections, the increased virulence of these organisms, and the existence of better microbiological diagnosis techniques. Furthermore, this condition occurs most commonly in normal host, with a benign course, and dissemination of infection beyond the local site is very rare. In children with defects in immune function, these pathology can be potentially serious. We report a case of cervical lymphadenitis secondary to Mycobacterium fortuitum in a girl 6-years old. We describe the etiology, clinical characteristics, diagnosis and therapeutical management of this disease in children.