Comparison of The Efficacy and Safety of Penicillins and Cephalosporins In Treatment of Pediatric Patients With Lower Respiratory Tract Infections

ABSTRACT The most common Lower respiratory tract infections (LRTI) such as bronchopneumonia, acute bronchiolitis, acute bronchitis. These infections are caused by numerous pathogens, among them virus as well as bacteria are more common. During the period of disease child and the parents also suffer with mental agony in addition to economic loss to the family. This study was conducted to assess and compare the efficacy and safety of penicillins and cephalosporins in treatment of pediatric patients with lower respiratory tract infections (LRTI).This prospective data collection study was conducted in the Department of Pediatrics, Narayana Medical College & Hospital, Nellore. The study was conducted after obtaining permission from Institutional Ethical Committee (IEC) for a period of six months. Fifty hospitalized patients with lower respiratory tract infections were enrolled into the study. Twenty five patients were treated with penicillins and remaining twenty five received cephalosporins. We analyzed the efficacy and safety based on the available data in medical case sheets of patients and also by collecting information from patients or parent of the patients.The mean time for disappearance of cough in the cephalosporin group was significantly lower than penicillin group (p=0.0001). However the time to disappearance of fever and breathlessness was not significantly different between the two groups (p=0.09, p=0.17). The mean time to improvement in all the clinical signs such as wheeze, crepitations and abnormal respiratory rate were in the cephalosporin group was significantly lower than penicillin group (p=0.001,p=0.01,p=0.02). Based on the present study, the clinical cure was observed in all the patients without any residual sequel and no adverse effects were reported. Hence, by our study it can be concluded that both groups of antibiotics were effective and safe.