Once daily ceftriaxone vs. chloramphenicol for treatment of typhoid fever in children.

In a prospective, randomized, open study ceftriaxone was compared with chloramphenicol for treatment of 59 children who had bacteriologically confirmed acute typhoid fever. Ceftriaxone was administered intramuscularly in a once a day dose of approximately 80 mg/kg body weight for 5 days. Chloramphenicol was given orally for 3 weeks in a daily dosage of 50 to 100 mg/kg body weight divided into 4 doses. In the ceftriaxone group 23 of 29 patients were cured, 2 improved, 1 failed and 2 relapsed. For those who received chloramphenicol 22 of the 30 patients were cured, 5 improved, 1 failed and 2 relapsed. In none of the patients in either group were adverse effects recorded. The overall results of this comparative study suggest that short term treatment of typhoid fever with ceftriaxone is as effective and safe as conventional treatment with chloramphenicol.