Atypical Mycobacterial Infections in Children

Abstract

During the period 1964–1968, 8 children with atypical mycobacterial infections have been seen at the Children's Memorial Hospital, University of Oklahoma Medical Center. The presenting complaint in all of the patients, who ranged in age from 2 to 13 years, was cervical lymphadenitis. None of the patients showed evidence of pulmonary or disseminated disease. One patient was considered to have concomitant infection with an atypical mycobacterium and Mycobacterium tuberculosis. In all of the patients the intradermal reaction to one or more of the atypical mycobacterial antigens—PPD-B (Battey), PPD-Y (Kansasii), and PPD-A (Avian)—was positive and larger than the reaction to PPD-S (human). Group II scotochromogens were isolated from 3 patients. Different treatment regimens were used. Certain aspects of atypical mycobacterial infections are reviewed.