The aim of the study: Comparison of clinical outcome of lower respiratory tract infections in small children treated or not treated with antibiotics.
Material and methods: Eighty seven children aged from 2 months to 5 years admitted to hospital with mild to moderate bronchitis and/or pneumonia were randomly allocated to one of two groups: group A children were treated with antibiotics and group B patients were not. The children remained under close clinical observation. The clinical outcome was considered good if symptoms of the disease decreased after 72 hours. In case of no clinical improvement or worsening, the children from group B received antibiotics and in children from group A antibiotic therapy was changed.
Results and conclusions: There were no significant differences between the two groups in the course of the disease, the frequency of pulmonary complications and recurrence during one month of follow-up.