Unusual cause of neck swelling in two siblings

The neck swellings are common in children and are usually reactive lymph nodes. In developing countries the tuberculous cervical lymphadenopathy remains an important differential of a neck swelling. Cysticercosis cellulose is a parasitic infection commonly causing neural involvement. Neck is very rarely involved and is confused with lymphadenopathy and thus poses diagnostic dilemma. We have managed a child with a small neck swelling which failed to settle with antibiotics (amoxicillin and clavulanic acid) and the eventual diagnosis turned out to be subcutaneous cysticercosis cellulae. On screening of the family members, the sibling of the child also had subcutaneous cysticercosis cellulae in neck. Our case highlights about the importance of screening in the family members. Cysticercosis should be kept as a differential diagnosis in the neck swelling. (C) 2014 Published by Elsevier Ireland Ltd.