CEFATRIZINE (8-D) VERSUS PENICILLIN-V (10 -D) FOR STREPTOCOCCAL-A PHARYNGITIS IN CHILDREN

We compare in an open multicenter randomized comparative study the cli nical efficacy and tolerance of cefatrizine 35 mg/kg/j, given in one o r two divided doses, for 8 days versus penicillin V 1 million t.i.d. f or 10 days as treatment of GA beta HS pharyngitis in children patients . Among the 295 children included, 99 (33.6%) took cefatrizine once a day, 101 (34.2%) in 2 divided doses and 95 (32.2%) penicillin V, The G A beta HS eradication rate was significantly higher with cefatrizine, whatever the administration regimen (96.5 and 95.7% respectively) than with penicillin V (88.3%, p < 0.05), Safety was identical in the thre e groups. Compliance was significantly better with cefatrizine once da ily than with penicillin. We conclude that cefatrizine once or twice d aily is an alternative of choice for the treatment of GA beta HS phary ngitis.