SHORT-COURSE CHEMOTHERAPY FOR CERVICAL LYMPH-NODE TUBERCULOSIS

Sixty-seven patients with tuberculous cervical lymphadenitis were randomized into two treatment groups: Group (A) (33 patients) received isoniazid and rifampicin for 12 months supplemented with ethambutol (or streptomycin) in the first 2 months (S2 or E2H12R12). Group (B) 134 patients) received isoniazid and rifampicin for 9 months plus pyrazinamide and ethambutol (or streptomycin) in the initial intensive phase (S2 or E2Z2H9R9). At 36 month follow-up, 62 patients (92%) remained cured, 30 in Group A and 32 in Group B. The main reason for withdrawal from the study was drug toxicity, two in Group A and one in Group B. The relapse rate after the end of chemotherapy was 3%, one in each group. Nausea, vomiting and epigastric pain were noted but did not alter the final outcome of chemotherapy. It is concluded that a 9-month drug regimen (S2 or E2Z2H9R9) is as effective as a 12-month regimen (S2 or E2H12R12) in treatment of tuberculous cervical lymphadenitis.