[Clinical study on head and neck tulareamia]. / Estudio clínico de la tularemia en cabeza y cuello.

OBJECTIVE: To perform a clinical description of head and neck tularaemia, collating the therapeutic strategies used and the most significant variables that seem to influence its evolution. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A retrospective descriptive study was performed on the series diagnosed in 2007 with involvement of the head and neck areas. For the definition of clinical cases, the recommendations of the Spanish National Centre for Epidemiological Surveillance, the European Union Network for the Surveillance and Control of Communicable Diseases and the U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention were followed. Basic statistics, stage, treatment carried out and evolution were noted. A descriptive statistical study as well as an analysis of the influencing variables in the clinical course of the disease and possible management are provided. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: 27 patients were studied. The clinical profile of the patient type is a middle-aged individual from rural areas, with a 1:1 male/female ratio, asymptomatic but affected by growing laterocervical lymphadenopathies, often appearing in summer, and notable on palpation, without any demonstrable entranceway. However, the profile is subject to variable patterns. The suspected diagnosis was confirmed on the basis of serological determinations (93 %). Two groups were observed: one formed by those with less evident clinical manifestations and an early ganglionar stage that mostly evolved well with specific antibiotic therapy, and another one with major clinical manifestations or advanced stage in which surgical procedures were required although subsequent evolution was good. In areas of high incidence, in summer, it is a disease to be considered in the differential diagnosis of lymphadenopathy syndromes.

Estudio clínico de la tularemia en cabeza y cuello / Clinical study on head and neck tulareamia

Objetivo. Realizar una descripción clínica de la tularemia en cabeza y cuello, recoger las estrategias terapéuticas empleadas y las variables más significativas que influyen en su evolución. Material y métodos. Se realizó un estudio retrospectivo y descriptivo de nuestra serie de 2007, en la que se demostró afectación de algún área definida como otorrinolaringológica. Para la definición de caso clínico, se siguieron las recomendaciones de la Red Nacional de Vigilancia Epidemiológica, la Red de Vigilancia Epidemiológica y Control de las Enfermedades Transmisibles de la Unión Europea y en el Centro para el Control de Enfermedades de Estados Unidos. Se recogieron las variables estadísticas básicas, el estadio de enfermedad y el tratamiento realizado, así como su evolución. Se realizó un estudio estadístico descriptivo de nuestra serie y de las variables que influyeron en el curso clínico de la enfermedad y su posible tratamiento. Resultados y conclusiones. Se estudió a 27 pacientes. El paciente tipo presenta una proporción de mujer: varón de 1:1, de edad media, procedente generalmente del ámbito rural, asintomático, pero afectado de adenopatías laterocervicales de crecimiento progresivo evolucionadas, de aparición estival y sensibles a la palpación, sin puerta de entrada evidente. No obstante, el perfil está sujeto a múltiples variaciones. El diagnóstico de sospecha se confirmó mediante estudio serológico (93 %). Se demostraron dos grupos: uno con manifestaciones clínicas menores y estadio temprano, que evolucionaron bien con tratamiento antibiótico específico, y otro con estadio más avanzado en el que fueron precisos gestos intervencionistas, aunque la evolución posterior fue buena. En áreas de alta incidencia, en verano, es una enfermedad a tener muy en cuenta en el diagnóstico diferencial de síndromes adenopáticos (AU)

Objective: To perform a clinical description of head and neck tularaemia, collating the therapeutic strategies used and the most significant variables that seem to influence its evolution. Material and methods: A retrospective descriptive study was performed on the series diagnosed in 2007 with involvement of the head and neck areas. For the definition of clinical cases, the recommendations of the Spanish National Centre for Epidemiological Surveillance, the European Union Network for the Surveillance and Control of Communicable Diseases and the U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention were followed. Basic statistics, stage, treatment carried out and evolution were noted. A descriptive statistical study as well as an analysis of the influencing variables in the clinical course of the disease and possible management are provided.Results and conclusions: 27 patients were studied. The clinical profile of the patient type is amiddle-aged individual from rural areas, with a 1:1 male/female ratio, asymptomatic but affected by growing laterocervical lymphadenopathies, often appearing in summer, and notable on palpation, without any demonstrable entranceway. However, the profile is subject to variable patterns. The suspected diagnosis was confirmed on the basis of serological determinations (93 %). Two groups were observed: one formed by those with less evident clinical manifestations and an early ganglionar stage that mostly evolved well with specific antibiotic therapy, and another one with major clinical manifestations or advanced stage in which surgical procedures were required although subsequent evolution was good. In areas of high incidence, in summer, it is a disease to be considered in the differential diagnosis of lymphadenopathy syndromes (AU)