目的 To enhance the clinicians awareness of retropharyngeal abscess (RPA) by discussing the clinical characteristics and different management approach.方法 A retrospective review was conducted of patients diagnosed with RPA during the period from April 1999 to May 2014.Their demographics, presentation, radiology, etiology, bacteriology, hospital stay, complications, reasons for misdiagnosis, treatment and prognosis were analyzed and evaluated.结果 A total of 13 children were admitted from April 1999 to May 2014.The majority of the children were below 3 years old(66.7％)； The presenting symptoms included sore throat, neck stiffness, fever, odynophagia, neck swelling, croup, hoarseness, new-onset snoring and dyspnea.The three-dimensional computed tomographic was advisable for radiological diagnosis.Staphylococcus aureus was the most common organism found on culture (61％), Furthermore, the misdiagnosis rate was up to 62％.Early surgical drainage, combined with systemic antibiotics treatment was the main effective method.结论 RPA is considered as a serious and occasionally life-threatening condition, which is easily misdiagnosed.Therefore it is essential to increase the awareness of emergency physicians and pediatric clinicians.