Does long-term chloramphenicol cause anaemia in Malawi?

Journal article

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).

Authors: Peek, A; Lavy, C; Thyoka, M; Pitani, A

• Journal: Tropical doctor
• Volume: 36
• Issue: 2
• Pages: 114-115
• Publication date: 2006-04-01
• DOI: 10.1258/004947506776593549
• EISSN: 1758-1133
• ISSN: 0049-4755
• Language: English
• Keywords: Child, Preschool; Time Factors; Protein Synthesis Inhibitors; Follow-Up Studies; Child; Salmonella Infections; Infant; Hemoglobins; Chloramphenicol; Arthritis, Infectious; Malawi; Anemia; Humans