ABSTRACT
To compare the effectiveness of amoxicillin administered in regimens of two or three daily doses in children with acute otitis media (AOM). As a secondary aim, we measured and compared treatment adherence between the two groups.A prospective observational study was conducted in the emergency department of a children's hospital.We recruited a total of 353 patients having a median age of 1.58 years. Twice-daily dosing was prescribed to 58%, while 42% received three doses per day. The clinical course of AOM was favourable in 92% of the patients who received two doses of amoxicillin and in 95% of those who received three doses (p = 0.25). Four patients (1%) had persistent symptoms beyond day 7. None developed intracranial complications. In the group receiving three doses daily, 31% reported difficulties with the dosing schedule, and 9.6% faced challenges when administering the medication at the specified volume, compared with 5.8% and 25% of those who received the two-dose regimen, respectively. Conclusion: Twice-daily amoxicillin has similar efficacy to a three-dose daily regimen and can offer advantages for caregivers in terms of administration schedule. What is Known: ⢠Amoxicillin given in two daily doses is as effective as a three doses regimen in the treatment of acute otitis media in children. ⢠The lower the number of daily doses, the higher the adherence to a drug treatment. What is New: ⢠Administration of amoxicillin in twice-daily doses may improve adherence, as it is less frequently associated with family-perceived problems with dosing schedules.
Subject(s)
Amoxicillin , Otitis Media , Child , Humans , Infant , Amoxicillin/adverse effects , Acute Disease , Drug Administration Schedule , Otitis Media/drug therapy , Drug Therapy, Combination , Anti-Bacterial Agents/therapeutic use , Treatment OutcomeSubject(s)
COVID-19 , RNA, Viral , Humans , Child , Retrospective Studies , Suicide, Attempted , Pandemics , COVID-19/epidemiology , SARS-CoV-2ABSTRACT
Streptococcus dysgalactiae subspecies equisimilis infection is an emerging pathogen. Cutaneous and systemic manifestations resemble those of other pyogenic streptococci. However, the rapid group A antigen detection test used to diagnose Streptococcus pyogenes infection is usually negative, making the diagnosis difficult. If clinical suspicion of streptococcal infection is high, a tonsillar culture should be performed to confirm the diagnosis.
