Does long-term chloramphenicol cause anaemia in Malawi?
Common clinical practice in many tropical paediatric departments is that chloramphenicol courses are limited to 2 weeks due to concerns about anaemia. However, this approach is not supported by current research and animal models. We used chloramphenicol for 6 weeks in 146 children with septic arthritis. All the children improved clinically. Most children were anaemic on presentation (mean haemoglobin [Hb] 8.43 SD 1.9), but the anaemia improved rapidly with clinical resolution of the infection and was maintained at 6 months after presentation (mean Hb 10.57 SD 1.86).
Peek
A C
AC
Department of Orthopaedic surgery, Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital, PO Box 95, Blantyre, Malawi.
Lavy
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CB
Thyoka
M
M
Pitani
A
A
D000740:Anemia / Q000139:chemically induced*; D001170:Arthritis, Infectious / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002701:Chloramphenicol / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008295:Malawi; D011500:Protein Synthesis Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D012480:Salmonella Infections / Q000188:drug therapy*; D013997:Time Factors
D006454:Hemoglobins; D011500:Protein Synthesis Inhibitors; D002701:Chloramphenicol