Primary tuberculous lymphadenitis: A case report

Tuberculosis (TB) is a prevalent systemic bacterial infectious disease usually caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis. It is estimated that approximately 8 million people develop TB each year, and 3 million people die of complications associated with the disease. In this article we report a case of a 17-year-old female patient with a painful swelling in her right submandibular region. She was diagnosed with right submandibular tuberculous lymphadenitis. Tuberculous lymphadenitis, when occurring in the cervical region, continues to be a common cause of extrapulmonary TB. TB is a recognized occupational risk for dentists, as they work in close proximity to the nasal and oral cavities of patients, with the possible generation of potentially infectious sprays during routine operative procedures.