BMJ · 1961 · 58 citations · 0 references
PharmacyPharmacologyPharmacotherapyClinical PharmacologyPain MedicinePediatric PharmacotherapyAnalgesiaPediatric Analgesic TherapyPediatric Antibiotic TherapyRespiratory MedicineControl Group DesignMatched Control GroupPain Control In ChildrenPediatric Pain PharmacotherapyPharmacologic Pain TreatmentTetracycline AntibioticsUpper Respiratory InfectionsUpper Respiratory Tract Infection Management
During the winters of 1958-9 and 1959-60 a controlled trial was held in order to see if tetracycline in therapeutic dosage for two days at the start of an upper respiratory infection in children would prevent the development of bronchitis or disabling chesty colds. Ninety-six children entered the trial and were randomized into two groups. Those in one were given tetracycline and in the other a placebo. For each of the factors analysed there was a difference in favour of the tetracycline-treated group. Attacks of bronchitis were prevented in -58% of the upper respiratory infec- tions treated with tetracycline, compared with 49% of those in the control group; the average durations of time off school per attack were 1.9 and 2.9 days respectively.