Mycobacterium fortuitum-related lymphadenitis associated with the varicella-zoster virus

• Main Authors: Kleber Giovanni Luz, Maria Helena Marques Fonseca de Britto, Domitila Costa de Farias, Mayara Varaschim Almeida, Nastassja Morgana de Sousa Figueirêdo, Paula de Medeiros Nacácio e Silva
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical (SBMT) 2014-01-01
• Series: Revista da Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical
• Subjects: Lymphadenitis; Non-tuberculous mycobacteria; Varicella-zoster virus; Mycobacterium fortuitum
• Online Access: http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0037-86822014000100119&lng=en&tlng=en
• ISSN: 1678-9849

Lymphadenitis caused by non-tuberculous mycobacteria is an uncommon manifestation in immunocompetent individuals. Here, we report a case of Mycobacterium fortuitum infection in a previously healthy 9-year-old patient who developed cervical lymphadenitis evolving to a suppurative ulcer associated with a varicella-zoster virus infection. We discuss the relationship between the varicella-zoster virus and the immune response of the host as an explanation for the unusual progression of the case.