OFLOXACIN VERSUS COTRIMOXAZOLE IN THE TREATMENT OF TYPHOID-FEVER IN CHILDREN

Ofloxacin has been successfully used in the treatment of typhoid fever and Salmonella infections of adults for many years. However, it has r arely been tried for the typhoid fever of children, In the present stu dy, the therapeutic efficacy of ofloxacin in the treatment of typhoid fryer in children was compared to that of co-trimoxazole. Out of 41 pa tients with bacteriologically documented typhoid fever, those with cot rimoxazole-resistant strains received 20 mg/kg ofloxacin twice daily f or 10 days, and those with cotrimoxazole-susceptible bacteria were giv en 60 mg/kg co-trimoxazole twice daily for 10 days, Both groups were c ompared according to the clinical variables !apyrexia, resolution of g astrointestinal, central nervous system reactions and articular sympto ms) and the time when cultures became negative. All patients in both g roups were cured without relapse, Apyrexia, resolution of gastrointest inal, central nervous system reactions and articular symptoms were obt ained in a significantly shorter time with ofloxacin than with co-trim oxazole (P < 0.05). The interval between onset of therapy and the time when cultures became negative was significantly shorter in the ofloxa cin group than in the co-trimoxazole group (P = 0.005). Ofloxacin seem s to be a good alternative in the treatment of typhoid fever caused by cotrimoxazole resistant salmonellae in children aged less than 16 yea rs. It is well tolerated by the patients and it causes no side effects with short-term usage.