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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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How Long Is This Dosage Of Penicillin Recommended For Rheumatic Fever?

My son is under treatment for Rheumatic fever from past 10 years, He is now aged about 16 years and weighing 45 Kg. He has been advise to have penicillin of 1.2 Million units on frequency of 21 days. Could you clarify the following 1. Present dosage is appropriate are any change is required. 2. when he can stop Penicillin for Rheumatic fever treatment.
Tue, 28 Jun 2016
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General & Family Physician,  's  Response
Hi & Welcome.
I can understand your concern for your beloved son.
As per the 2004 WHO Technical Report on rheumatic fever, IM injection of Benzathine benzylpenicillin should be given every three weeks as the most
effective way of preventing recurrent attacks of rheumatic fever.
The dose is calculated on the basis of the body weight:
If the body weight is less than 30 kg then 1.2 Million units are given.
If the body weight is less than 30 Kg then 600, 000 units are recommended.

If your son has no features suggestive of valvular heart disease (carditis) he should take the injections for at least 21 years. If he has valvular heart disease then the treatment has to be continued for at least 40 years or more.
Hope this answers your query.
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How Long Is This Dosage Of Penicillin Recommended For Rheumatic Fever?

Hi & Welcome. I can understand your concern for your beloved son. As per the 2004 WHO Technical Report on rheumatic fever, IM injection of Benzathine benzylpenicillin should be given every three weeks as the most effective way of preventing recurrent attacks of rheumatic fever. The dose is calculated on the basis of the body weight: If the body weight is less than 30 kg then 1.2 Million units are given. If the body weight is less than 30 Kg then 600, 000 units are recommended. If your son has no features suggestive of valvular heart disease (carditis) he should take the injections for at least 21 years. If he has valvular heart disease then the treatment has to be continued for at least 40 years or more. Hope this answers your query.