PURPOSE: Group A streptococci have a cell wall which consists of M protein and T protein. T protein is known to be helpful in the understanding of the epidemiology of group A streptococci. To study the epidemiologic characteristics, we serotyped T protein of group A streptococci obtained from patients admitted to hospitals, or who visited OPD in five districts of Seoul the during last three years. METHODS: Group A streptococci were obtained in five districts in north, northeast, central, northwest and south Seoul from 1998 through 2000. All isolated group A streptococci were serotyped with T protein antisera(Institute of Sera and Vaccine, Prague, Czech Republic). RESULTS: In 1998, analysis of obtained total number of 92 strains revealed that T12, T4, and NT acounted for 72.2%. Among seven cases of scarlet fever, T12 was isolated in four cases and T4 was found in three cases. Two cases of tonsilar abscess produced T8 and NT. One case of cervical lymphadenitis showed T12. In 1999, 41 cases were studied showing that T12, T4, and T1 contributed 68%. Among five cases of scarlet fever, T12 and T4 make up three case. There were two cases of pneumonia(T4 and T1) and one case of cervical lymphadenitis(T8/25). In 2000, the study was performed in four districts except the central area. Among 83 isolates, T12, T4 and T1 accounted for 63.9%. There were three cases of scarlet fever(T12, T4, T5), one case of tonsillar abscess(T12), one case of pneumonia(NT) and one case of sepsis(T1). CONCLUSION: Serological analysis of T protein of group A streptococci shows no endemic specificity. The yearly pattern reveals that T12 had been decreasing but T1 had shown the opposite trend.
Abscess ; Cell Wall ; Epidemiology ; Humans ; Lymphadenitis ; Scarlet Fever ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Seoul

Toxoplasmosis is a disease caused by the infection with an obligate intracellular parasite, Toxoplasma gondii. The most common manifestation of acute toxoplasmosis in an immunocompetent patients is a cervical lymphadenitis. The prevalence of toxoplasmosis in Korea is much lower than in those of other countries, including the United States and most European countries. We report three cases of toxoplasma lymphadenitis arising in the posterior cervical lymph nodes of immunocompetent patients with typical histologic findings and positive serologic results. The etiology, epidemiology, clinical features, diagnostic methods, and management of toxoplasmosis are also reviewed.
Epidemiology ; Humans ; Korea ; Lymph Nodes ; Lymphadenitis* ; Neck* ; Parasites ; Prevalence ; Toxoplasma* ; Toxoplasmosis ; United States

Objective: To investigate the economic burden of bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) lymphadenitis in Shandong Province. Methods: From May 2011 to December 2019, 304 patients applying for the province-level compensation of BCG lymphadenitis was selected from Shandong Province in this study. The basic situation, vaccination, outpatient (inpatient) records, cost and relevant information of those patients were collected to calculate the direct economic burden (including direct medical costs and direct non-medical costs), indirect economic burden and total economic burden. Comparison of the difference of economic burden of cases with different characteristics was taken. Results: The M(Q₁,Q₃) of age of BCG lymphadenitis patients was 3 (2, 4) months, among which 239 cases (78.6%) were male, 71 cases (23.4%) had lymphadenopathy, and 227 cases (74.7%) underwent surgery.The number of outpatient only, inpatient only and outpatient then inpatient was 25.7% (78 cases), 7.2% (22 cases) and 67.1% (204 cases), respectively. The M(Q₁,Q₃) of direct, indirect and total economic burden of single case after discount was 9 910 (5 713, 16 074), 2 081 (1 547, 3 122) and 12 262 (7 694, 18 571) yuan, respectively.The direct medical expenses accounted for 89.4% of the direct economic burden, the direct economic burden accounted for 84.9% of the total economic burden, the total economic burden of 80.0% cases accounted for only about 20.0% of the compensation amount, and the total economic burden of only 2.3% cases accounted for more than 60.0% of the compensation amount.The direct, indirect and total economic burden of patients with inpatient only and outpatient then inpatient was higher than that of patients with outpatient only; the direct, indirect and total economic burden of patients with operation was higher than that of patients with non-operation; the direct and total economic burden of patients with unulcerated lymph node was higher than that of patients with ulcerated lymph node(all P values<0.05). Conclusion: The economic burden of BCG lymphadenitis cases in Shandong Province is influenced by the mode of diagnosis and treatment, with direct medical expenses as the predominant component.
BCG Vaccine ; Cost of Illness ; Financial Stress ; Humans ; Infant ; Lymphadenitis/epidemiology* ; Male ; Vaccination

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Clinical manifestations of intestinal yersiniosis include enterocolitis, mesenteric adenitis, and terminal ileitis presenting with fever, right lower quadrant pain, and leukocytosis. According to a previous Korean study in 1997, Yersinia was revealed in two among 15 adult patients with mesenteric adenitis (13%). However, recent reports on the prevalence of Yersinia infection in adult patients are few. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of Yersinia infection in adult patients with acute right lower quadrant pain. METHODS: Adult patients (>18 years) who visited Eulji medical center, due to acute right lower quadrant pain were enrolled prospectively from December 2007 to July 2009. Abdominal CT, stool culture, serologic test for Yersinia, and Widal test were performed. RESULTS: Among 115 patients, 5 patients were excluded due to positive Widal test or salmonella culture. In 110 patients, abdominal CT showed right colitis in 20 (18.2%), terminal ileitis in 16 (14.5%), mesenteric adenitis in 13 (11.8%), acute appendicitis in 10 (9.1%), acute diverticulitis in 7 (6.4%), non specific mucosal edema in 36 (32.7%) and no specific lesion in 8 (7.3%). Two (1.8%) of the 110 patients had antibodies to Yersinia. One patient showed acute enteritis and the other patient was diagnosed with acute appendicitis and underwent appendectomy. No Yersinia species were grown on stool or tissue culture. CONCLUSIONS: Nowadays, among adult Korean patients presenting with acute right lower quadrant pain, there have been few incidences of Yersinia infection.
Abdominal Pain/*microbiology ; Acute Disease ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Antibodies/blood/immunology ; Appendicitis/epidemiology ; Colitis/epidemiology ; Diverticulitis/epidemiology ; Edema/epidemiology ; Female ; Humans ; Ileitis/epidemiology ; Lymphadenitis/epidemiology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prevalence ; Prospective Studies ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Yersinia/*isolation & purification ; Yersinia Infections/*diagnosis/*epidemiology

INTRODUCTIONGranulomatous cervicofacial lymphadenitis (GCL) is not uncommon in children. Nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) seem to be the predominant cause. We sought to study the clinical and microbiological profile of patients with GCL, and identify features that may impact outcome.

METHODSChildren aged < 16 years who presented to KK Women's and Children's Hospital, Singapore, between January 1998 and December 2006, and who had GCL were identified from laboratory records. Clinical and laboratory data was collected and analysed for risk factors for patients with positive lymph node cultures, and for patients with and without recurrence after treatment.

RESULTSIn all, 60 children were identified, with a median age of 56 (interquartile range [IQR] 34-101) months. Median duration of symptoms before presentation was 5 (IQR 4-8) weeks. The majority presented with single (73.3%) or unilateral (96.7%) lymphadenopathy, located in the submandibular, preauricular/parotid or infra-/post-auricular region (76.7%). Out of 51 patients, 26 (51.0%) had a tuberculin skin test reading of ≥ 10 mm. Out of 52 patients, 10 (19.2%) had positive mycobacterial cultures, which included seven isolates of NTM. Out of 34 cases, tuberculous polymerase chain reaction was positive in 11 (32.4%). With regard to recurrence after initial treatment, age < 5 years at presentation was found to be a predictor for recurrence (p = 0.008), while initial complete excision of affected nodes predicted no recurrence (p = 0.003).

CONCLUSIONIn our study, younger age was noted to be associated with a higher chance of recurrence, while complete excision of the involved node at initial presentation predicted non-recurrence.

Adolescent ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Lymphadenitis ; diagnosis ; epidemiology ; microbiology ; Lymphatic Diseases ; diagnosis ; microbiology ; Male ; Mycobacterium ; Mycobacterium Infections ; diagnosis ; epidemiology ; microbiology ; Recurrence ; Retrospective Studies ; Singapore ; Treatment Outcome ; Tuberculin Test