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Efficacy of co-trimoxazole in infantile gastro-enteritis
Insights
Co-trimoxazole demonstrated superior effectiveness in treating acute gastroenteritis in children compared to streptomycin and neomycin. This antibiotic combination led to shorter illness durations and better clinical outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Infectious Diseases
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Acute gastroenteritis is a common childhood illness, often requiring antibiotic treatment.
- Streptomycin and neomycin have been used, but their efficacy in pediatric gastroenteritis requires further evaluation.
- Co-trimoxazole is a combination antibiotic with broad-spectrum activity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the clinical and bacteriological effectiveness of co-trimoxazole with streptomycin and neomycin in children with acute gastroenteritis.
- To assess treatment duration and patient response rates for each antibiotic regimen.
Main Methods:
- A randomized controlled trial involving 105 children (2 months to 2 years) with acute gastroenteritis.
- Patients received either streptomycin (50 mg/kg/day), neomycin (50 mg/kg/day), or co-trimoxazole (6 mg trimethoprim + 30 mg sulfamethoxazole/kg/day) for at least 5 days.
- Clinical and bacteriological assessments were performed to evaluate treatment response.
Main Results:
- Co-trimoxazole treatment resulted in significantly better clinical outcomes and shorter illness duration compared to streptomycin and neomycin.
- Patients who did not respond to streptomycin or neomycin showed symptom improvement within 2-3 days after switching to co-trimoxazole.
Conclusions:
- Co-trimoxazole is a more effective treatment option for acute gastroenteritis in young children than streptomycin or neomycin.
- Early switch to co-trimoxazole can effectively manage cases initially unresponsive to other antibiotics.
Abstract:
A comparative, randomized trial was carried out in 105 children, aged between 2 months and 2 years and who were suffering from acute gastro-enteritis, to assess the effectiveness of co-trimoxazole with that of streptomycin and neomycin. Patients were treated in hospital for 5 days or longer and received daily doses either of 50 mg/kg streptomycin or neomycin, or of 6 mg trimethoprim plus 30 mg sulphamethoxazole/kg. Clinical and bacteriological assessments of response to treatment showed that better results were achieved in the co-trimoxazole group, and the duration of illness was also shorter in this this group. In the 3 patients on neomycin and the 12 on streptomycin who did not respond clinically, symptoms were controlled in all of them within 2 to 3 days of being changed over to co-trimoxazole treatment.