Epidemiology of cervico-facial pediatric lymphadenitis as a result of nontuberculous mycobacteria

Cervical lymphadenitis as a result of nontuberculous mycobacteria, otherwise known as scrofula, is a disease occurring almost exclusively in immunocompetent young children. The most frequent mycobacterial species responsible is Mycobacterium avium, but a large number of other species may also be involved. The epidemiology of such disease is revised here, and the impact of different species as causative agents of adenitis is also discussed.