[Thoracic actinomycosis: Thinking of it earlier?].

UNLABELLED: Thoracic actinomycosis is a rare disease, with high morbidity related to delayed diagnosis.

OBJECTIVES

To identify and analyse paediatric thoracic actinomycosis to promote earlier diagnosis.

DESIGN

A 10-year descriptive retrospective review (1999-2008). Clinical, biological, and radiological data were collected and compared to identify common signs.

RESULTS

Three patients were identified. The time to diagnosis varied from 4 months to 3 years. Fever, asthenia, pain, weight loss, and sweats were the most common complaints. A predisposing factor was systematically observed. Irregular subpleural nodules were revealed with an infiltrative aspect. Definitive diagnosis was always histological.

CONCLUSION

Actinomycosis should be sought in patients with asthenia and weight loss, local pain, when chest radiological evidence of distal nodules is observed with a non-specific biologic inflammatory syndrome. At this time, anaerobic bacteriological tests and histology should be performed.