A total of 384 children with group A b-haemolytic streptococcal (GABHS) pharyngitis were randomized to receive either 40 mg/
kg/day of cefaclor in two doses for 5 days (192 patients), or 40 mg/kg/day of amoxycillin in three doses for 10 days (192 patients).
The signs and symptoms of pharyngitis were recorded and throat cultures were obtained at presentation and on days 6/7, 11/15,
16/20 and 28/35. Patient compliance was significantly higher in the children treated with cefaclor (100 vs. 95.1%; P/0.003). At the
end of follow-up, the percentage of clinical success was 91.4% for cefaclor and 91.9% for amoxycillin (P/0.974); bacteriological
success was obtained in 85.7 and 89.6% children (P/0.348), respectively. Both treatments were well-tolerated with adverse event
rates of 8.3% in the cefaclor group and 9.4% in the amoxcillin group (P/0.857). Our study shows that five days’ treatment with
cefaclor is as effective and safe as the conventional 10-day course of amoxycillin in the treatment of GABHS pharyngitis, but
compliance seems to be significantly greater. #