Trial of chloramphenicol for meningitis in northern savanna of Africa.

Abstract

In a controlled trial chloramphenicol proved as effective and much cheaper than penicillin for the treatment of group A meningococcal meningitis in Zaria, Nigeria. A short course of five days cured most patients. Adults and older children were soon able to take chloramphenicol by mouth, which reduced the cost and simplified treatment.It is suggested that chloramphenicol is a suitable alternative to sulphonamides for the treatment of meningococcal meningitis in those parts of Africa where the organism is sulphonamide-resistant.

• Authors: H C Whittle, N M Davidson, B M Greenwood, D A Warrell, A Tomkins, P Tugwell, A Zalin, A D Bryceson, E H Parry, M Brueton, M Duggan, A D Rajković
• Journal: British medical journal (Br Med J) Vol. 3 Issue 5876 Pg. 379-81 (Aug 18 1973) ISSN: 0007-1447 [Print] England
• PMID: 4199744 (Publication Type: Clinical Trial, Comparative Study, Journal Article, Randomized Controlled Trial)

Chemical References

• Penicillins
• Sulfonamides
• Chloramphenicol

Topics

• Administration, Oral
• Cerebrospinal Fluid (microbiology)
• Child
• Child, Preschool
• Chloramphenicol (administration & dosage, therapeutic use)
• Clinical Trials as Topic
• Female
• Hemagglutination Tests
• Humans
• Infant
• Injections, Intramuscular
• Male
• Meningitis, Meningococcal (drug therapy, immunology)
• Neisseria meningitidis (isolation & purification)
• Nigeria
• Penicillin Resistance
• Penicillins (therapeutic use)
• Sulfonamides (therapeutic use)