PENICILLIN TREATMENT OF STREPTOCOCCAL PHARYNGITIS

Abstract

Comparative effects of symptomatic treatment and therapy with 2 penicillin regimens were assessed in 127 critically selected cases of streptococcal pharyngitis with reference to the course of the acute disease, the incidence of pyogenic complications, late sequelae, relapses, the carrier state, and antistreptolysin formation. Penicillin did not significantly modify the symptomatology of the acute disease, but did shorten the mean duration of fever and leukocytosis. By early reduction of the no. of streptococci in the pharynx, frequent injns. of penicillin suppressed antibody formation (antistreptolysin), whereas patients treated symptomatically or with large, single daily injns. of aqueous penicillin manifested a greater incidence and degree of antibody formation.