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Scrofula - Symptom

Alternative Names

Tuberculous adenitis

Symptoms:

Chills
Fevers (rare)
Painless swelling of lymph nodes in the neck and elsewhere in body
Sores (ulceration -- rare)
Sweats
Weight loss

Signs and tests:

Tests to diagnose scrofula include:

Examination of tissue sample under a microscope (histology)
Chest x-rays
Cultures to check for the bacteria in tissue samples taken from the lymph nodes
TB tine or PPD test

Reviewed last on: 9/28/2008
Linda Vorvick, MD, Seattle Site Coordinator, Lecturer, Pathophysiology, MEDEX Northwest Division of Physician Assistant Studies, University of Washington School of Medicine; and Jatin M. Vyas, MD, PhD, Instructor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Assistant in Medicine, Division of Infectious Disease, Massachusetts General Hospital. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

References

Pastermack MS, Swartz MN. Lymphadenitis and lymphangitis. In: Mandell GL, Bennett JE, Dolin R, eds. Principles and Practice of Infectious Disease. 6th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Elsevier Churchill Livingstone; 2005: chap 88.

Starke JR, Munoz FM. Tuberculosis (mycobacterium tuberculosis). In: Kliegman RM, Behrman RE, Jenson HB, Stanton BF, eds. Textbook of Pediatrics. 18th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2007: chap 212.

Powell DA. Nontuberculous mycobacteria. In: Kliegman RM, Behrman RE, Jenson HB, Stanton BF, eds. Textbook of Pediatrics. 18th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2007: chap 214.

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