CLINICAL CASES   

Gazzetta Medica Italiana Archivio per le Scienze Mediche 1998 April;157(2):61-2

Copyright © 1998 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

language: Italian

Inefficacy of azithromycin, administered for 3 days, in the prevention of acute rheumatic fever

Ghirga G., Ghirga P., Palazzi C., Turchetti A., Murgia F., Turchetti G., Colaiacomo M.

Ospedale S. Paolo - Civitavecchia (Roma), Divisione di Pediatria

A case of a 7-year-old child affected by streptococcal scarlet fever treated with azithromycin suspension (10 mg/kg) dosed orally once daily for 3 days, who developed acute rheumatic fever three weeks later, is described. This case of rheumatic fever may be one of those cases that could occur even after alleged appropriate therapy for group A streptococcal pharyngitis/tonsillitis. Nevertheless, at present there is not sufficient scientific evidence supporting the theory that rheumatic fever can be effectively prevented with a 3-day course of azithromycin. Cases of rheumatic fever following acute group A streptococcal pharyngitis/tonsillitis treated with azithromycin suspension (10 mg/kg) dosed orally once daily for 3 days, could cause both ethical and medicolegal problems.