Pediatric cervicofacial actinomycosis: An unusual cause of head and neck masses

Abstract

Cervicofacial actinomycosis is an unusual cause of head and neck masses in children. This low prevalence of disease in children inevitably leads to delay in clinical recognition and often requires invasive intervention for diagnosis and curative therapy.We present an illustrative case and review cases of cervicofacial actinomycosis in the pediatric literature with particular attention to clinical presentation, course, and outcome.© The Author 2013. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society. All rights reserved.