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Neck lump - Management
Basis for recommendation
Antibiotic treatment
- The recommendation to consider treatment with antibiotics if the lymphadenopathy is thought to be due to bacterial infection is based on expert opinion in a narrative review [Schwetschenau and Kelley, 2002].
- CKS expert reviewers suggest that an infected lymph node deep in the neck can progress to a deep neck abscess and eventually mediastinitis. This supports the recommendation to treat with antibiotics.
Viral infection
- The recommendation to consider that lymphadenopathy may be due to a viral infection is based on opinion from CKS expert reviewers.
Referral
- The recommendation to refer the person if lymphadenopathy is not resolving within 2 weeks of antibiotic treatment for presumed bacterial infection is based on expert opinion in a narrative review [Prakash and Hanna, 2002].
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