DrugLib.com — Drug Information Portal

Rx drug information, pharmaceutical research, clinical trials, news, and more



Benzathine penicillin for unilateral lobar or segmental infiltrates presumptively caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae in children 2-12 years old.

Author(s): Camargos PA, Guimaraes MD, Ferreira CS

Affiliation(s): Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil.

Publication date & source: 1997-12, J Trop Pediatr., 43(6):353-60.

Publication type: Clinical Trial; Randomized Controlled Trial

A randomized controlled study was carried out to assess the efficacy of a single dose of benzathine penicillin for treating children 2-12 years old with presumed S. pneumoniae pneumonia. One-hundred-and-seventy-six children screened at self-referral pediatric emergency services in Belo Horizonte, Brazil, were randomized to only one injection of benzathine penicillin (n = 93, case-group) or a 7-day procaine penicillin regimen (n = 83, control-group), upon diagnosis of pneumococcal pneumonia based on clinical and radiological characteristics. Follow-up was carried out on the second day after treatment and around the 7th and/or 14th day after treatment allocation. No statistical significant difference was found for sociodemographic, clinical, laboratory or radiographic characteristics among the two groups. Evident or total radiographic clearing was demonstrated for 92.3 and 95.1 per cent of the benzathine penicillin and procaine penicillin groups, respectively (P = 0.54). Benzathine penicillin may be considered an alternative to classic regimens for treating pneumonia due to sensitive strains of S. pneumoniae among children 2-12 years old. Other benefits are its lower cost, better compliance and low rates of adverse reactions.

Page last updated: 2006-01-31

-- advertisement -- The American Red Cross
 
Home | About Us | Contact Us | Site usage policy | Privacy policy

All Rights reserved - Copyright DrugLib.com, 2006-2017