title: Cephalosporin therapy for childhood meningitis.
abstract: Ampicillin and chloramphenicol have been used for initial empiric therapy of childhood meningitis since the mid-1970s. Problems associated with these drugs include the possibility of chloramphenicol-associated aplastic anemia and the existence of Hemophilus influenzae type b resistance to both ampicillin and chloramphenicol. Several second- and third-generation cephalosporins have been shown to be as effective as ampicillin and chloramphenicol in the treatment of childhood meningitis.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000667:Ampicillin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001855:Bone Marrow Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced; D002443:Ceftriaxone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002444:Cefuroxime / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002511:Cephalosporins / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002701:Chloramphenicol / Q000009:adverse effects; D006193:Haemophilus influenzae / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008581:Meningitis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008587:Meningitis, Viral / Q000188:drug therapy; D010403:Penicillin Resistance
chemical_list: D002511:Cephalosporins; D002701:Chloramphenicol; D002443:Ceftriaxone; D000667:Ampicillin; D002444:Cefuroxime