Soha M Abd El Dayem1, Hala Hamza2, Sohair Helal3, Azza Mohamed4, Heba Hassan4. 1. Prof. of Pediatrics, Consultant of Endocrinology, Pediatrics Department, National Research Centre, Cairo, Egypt. Electronic address: S_eldayem@yahoo.com. 2. Pediatrics Department, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt. 3. Clinical Pathology Department, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt. 4. Pediatrics Department, National Research Centre, Cairo, Egypt.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: We evaluated the effectiveness of long acting penicillin (LAP) as a 2-weekly regimen in winter and a 3-weekly regimen in summer for prevention of streptococcal colonization and also studied the common complaints of patients during the period of compliance for LAP administration. We also attempted to determine the incidence of relapses or recurrence of rheumatic fever (RF) after the onset of first episode of RF. PATIENTS & METHODS: 210 rheumatic patients with good compliance to LAP (for at least one year) were included in the study. Demographic, clinical information, patients' complaints and echocardiographic data of rheumatic patients were collected both retrospectively and prospectively. Anti-streptolysin O titre (ASOT) and throat swab culture were done at the end of the study (on Day 14 in the 2-weekly regimen and on Day 21 in the 3-weekly regimen). RESULTS: The age of onset of rheumatic fever was mostly between 5 and 15 years and the youngest patient was 2 years old. Subclinical carditis (SCC) was present in 79 (37%) of all the patients in the study population. Only 7 patients (3.3%) had a relapse within 2 years of the acute episode of RF. At the end of the study, ASOT was found to be high only in 11 patients (5.2%) and throat swab cultures were found negative in all patients CONCLUSION: LAP regimen is fairly effective in eradicating streptococcal colonization. The incidence of relapse of RF within 2 years of the acute episode of RF is relatively low.
OBJECTIVE: We evaluated the effectiveness of long acting penicillin (LAP) as a 2-weekly regimen in winter and a 3-weekly regimen in summer for prevention of streptococcal colonization and also studied the common complaints of patients during the period of compliance for LAP administration. We also attempted to determine the incidence of relapses or recurrence of rheumatic fever (RF) after the onset of first episode of RF. PATIENTS & METHODS: 210 rheumaticpatients with good compliance to LAP (for at least one year) were included in the study. Demographic, clinical information, patients' complaints and echocardiographic data of rheumaticpatients were collected both retrospectively and prospectively. Anti-streptolysin O titre (ASOT) and throat swab culture were done at the end of the study (on Day 14 in the 2-weekly regimen and on Day 21 in the 3-weekly regimen). RESULTS: The age of onset of rheumatic fever was mostly between 5 and 15 years and the youngest patient was 2 years old. Subclinical carditis (SCC) was present in 79 (37%) of all the patients in the study population. Only 7 patients (3.3%) had a relapse within 2 years of the acute episode of RF. At the end of the study, ASOT was found to be high only in 11 patients (5.2%) and throat swab cultures were found negative in all patients CONCLUSION:LAP regimen is fairly effective in eradicating streptococcal colonization. The incidence of relapse of RF within 2 years of the acute episode of RF is relatively low.
Authors: Breno A F Pereira; Nilzio Antonio da Silva; Luis E C Andrade; Flavio S Lima; Fernanda C Gurian; Joaquim Caetano de Almeida Netto Journal: Indian J Pediatr Date: 2007-02 Impact factor: 1.967
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