Treatment of cervical adenopathies secondary to oropharyngeal tularaemia. Our experience in 8 patients

Tularaemia is an uncommon zoonosis in our country. During the outbreak in 2007, there was a notably high incidence of the oropharyngeal form. We report our experience in 8 patients with oropharyngeal tularaemia with cervical adenopathies. The mean age was 45 years (11–76), with 5 males. All suffered oropharyngeal pain, fever, and asthenia. The time elapsed between the onset of symptoms and attending our clinic varied from 8 to 60 days. Mean duration of oropharyngeal symptoms was 11.7 days, and adenopathies appeared in the first 3 days. Resolution of adenopathies occurred at 2 to 3.5 months. Three cases needed surgical drainage and 2 fistulized spontaneously. Seven patients were treated with ciprofloxacin and 1 with erythromycin. A correct and precocious antibiotic therapy, and sometimes surgical drainage, could accelerate the healing process.