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Seasonal benzathine penicillin G prophylaxis for recurrent streptococcal pharyngitis in children

S Akşit1, S Caglayan, G Dokucu

  • 1Department of Pediatrics, Ege University Faculty of Medicine, Izmir, Turkey.

Acta Paediatrica Japonica : Overseas Edition
|August 8, 1998
PubMed

Insights

Benzathine penicillin G (BPG) prophylaxis significantly reduced recurrent streptococcal pharyngitis in children by 92%. This intramuscular treatment is highly effective for preventing GABHS infections in susceptible children.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatrics
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Recurrent streptococcal pharyngitis poses a significant health concern in children.
  • Group A beta-hemolytic streptococcal (GABHS) pharyngitis can lead to complications if not managed effectively.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the effectiveness of benzathine penicillin G (BPG) prophylaxis in preventing recurrent streptococcal pharyngitis in pediatric patients.
  • To determine the impact of BPG on the incidence of GABHS pharyngitis episodes.

Main Methods:

  • A randomized controlled trial involving 160 children aged 4-11 years with a history of recurrent GABHS pharyngitis.
  • Participants were divided into two groups: one received intramuscular BPG every 3 weeks, while the control group received no prophylaxis.
  • Data on GABHS pharyngitis episodes were collected over two 4-month periods.

Main Results:

  • The BPG prophylaxis group experienced a dramatic reduction in GABHS pharyngitis, with only 16 episodes compared to 244 in the control group (P < 0.001).
  • BPG administration resulted in a 92% decrease in streptococcal pharyngitis incidence within the treatment group.
  • The control group showed no significant change in pharyngitis frequency between the observation and prophylaxis periods.

Conclusions:

  • Intramuscular benzathine penicillin G is a highly effective prophylactic measure against GABHS pharyngitis in children.
  • The study recommends BPG prophylaxis every 3 weeks, particularly during fall-winter seasons, for children prone to frequent GABHS infections.
Abstract

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