Azithromycin compared with clarithromycin for the treatment of streptococcal pharyngitis in children.

The treatment of streptococcal pharyngitis with azithromycin (10 mg/kg orally once daily for 3 days) or clarithromycin (7.5 mg/kg orally twice daily for 10 days) was compared in a randomized observer-blind study carried out in 174 children with documented Streptococcus pyogenes infection. The observed cure rate 10 days after the beginning of treatment was 61/63 (96.8%) in the clarithromycin group and 71/74 (95.9%) in the azithromycin group. At days 17-20 the bacteriological eradication rate was 95.2% for clarithromycin and 94.6% for azithromycin. When children who did not complete treatment were included in the analysis the eradication rate was higher for azithromycin (93.6% compared with 82.9%; P < 0.05); the difference was due to better compliance with the azithromycin regimen.

Essential fatty acids: the effects of dietary supplementation among children with recurrent respiratory infections.

The impact of dietary supplementation with essential fatty acids (EFA) on recurrent respiratory infections (RRI) in children was evaluated by means of a randomized cross-over double-blind study. Linoleic acid (596 mg/day) and alpha-linolenic acid [855 mg/day] as a commercial preparation or placebo (olive oil) were administered for two consecutive winter seasons (November to February, T0-T120) to 20 children affected by RRI, aged between 36 and 49 months. Plasma levels of n-3 and n-6 metabolites increased after the administration of EFA. The number of infective episodes, days' fever and days' absence from school were reduced significantly during the observation period (extended from T120 to T180) in children receiving EFA supplementation. Our results suggest that n-3 and n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids may play a favourable role in the defence mechanism of these subjects.

Acute post-streptococcal polymyalgia: two new cases with a review of the literature.

UNLABELLED: Two patients with acute post-streptococcal polymyalgia are described with a review of the seven cases previously reported cases. The common features are sudden onset of muscular pain with fever usually after an acute upper respiratory tract infection. Antistreptolysin O titre and inflammatory indexes are increased and muscle enzymes are normal. CONCLUSION: Acute post-streptococcal polymyalgia should be considered as a possible diagnosis in every child complaining acute polymyalgia.

[Rheumatic fever: a retrospective study of a case series of the last 20 years]. / La malattia reumatica: studio retrospettivo di una casistica degli ultimi 20 anni.

The incidence of rheumatic fever in the last twenty years in our ward is reviewed. A substantial decrease is noted; anyway a peak in the years '80-'86 is reported, accordingly literature. Carditis is a frequent manifestation, but its clinical impact is less severe than in the past. Arthritis may have an unusual feature. A good compliance to prophylaxis has been obtained by a strict follow-up.