To investigate the clinical feature and therapeutic effect of cervical lymph node tuberculosis (CTL) in children in Kashgar area of Xinjiang.

The following clinical information and data were collected from 131 cases of children CTL, who admitted in first people′s hospital of kashgar during April 2014 to April 2019. The general situation, clinical manifestations, location of lymph node tuberculosis, treatment and treatment outcomes were analyzed. The regression of lymph node swelling, improvement of tuberculosis symptoms, evaluation of neck aesthetics, surgical complications and adverse drug reactions were described. Counting data were expressed by percentages.

The ratio of men to women was 1∶1.2, with 52 cases ranging in 0 ~ 3 years old (39.69%) . There was 93 cases of CTL located in unilateral side of the neck, and 51 cases in the right side (38.93%) . The complicated pulmonary tuberculosis was not shown in 83 cases (63.36%) of the patients. The associated manifestations included loss of appetite (36/147, 24.49%) , fever (12/147, 8.16%) , nightsweats (22/147, 14.96%) , and fatigue (19/147, 12.93%) . 69 cases had tuberculosis contact history (69/131, 52.67%) . The Levels of CTL distributed in Level Ⅰ (11/204, 5.39%) , Level Ⅱ (37/204, 18.14%) , Level Ⅲ (63/204, 30.88%) , Level Ⅳ (41/204, 20.10%) , and Level Ⅴ (52/204, 25.49%) . 85 CTL cases involved in one or two Levels (50.90%) , and 46 cases in three or more than three levels (27.54%) . 36 cases were treated with anti-tuberculosis drugs, and 51 cases with surgery and anti-tuberculosis drugs treatment. The regression of enlarged lymph nodes, satisfaction of neck appearance, and the remission of symptoms of tuberculosis poisoning in surgery and anti-tuberculosis drugs treatment group were significantly better than anti-tuberculosis drugs group. There were no serious surgical complications.

Children CTL in Kashgar area of Xinjiang shows the following features: female patients more than male patients; 0-3 years old incidence higher, the right neck involvement more often, most cases without pulmonary tuberculosis, tuberculosis symptom incidence lower, and more involvement in Level Ⅲ and Ⅴ. The combination of surgery and anti-tuberculosis treatment has a good therapeutic effect, and the surgical complications and adverse drug reactions can be controled.