BENZATHINE PENICILLIN FOR UNILATERAL LOBAR OR SEGMENTAL INFILTRATES PRESUMPTIVELY CAUSED BY STREPTOCOCCUS-PNEUMONIAE IN CHILDREN 2-12 YEARSOLD

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