Low dose sultamicillin in acute sinusitis.

OBJECTIVES: To study the effectiveness of low dose sultamicillin in the treatment of acute sinusitis. METHODS: A total of 108 patients, between 16-56 years of age (mean 32.8), suffering from acute sinusitis took part in the trial. Patients received orally 2 x 375 mg sultamicillin, and compared with patients receiving 3 x 500 mg amoxicillin. The first control was made between the 5th and 7th days. A patient was considered clinically cured when all pretreatment signs and symptoms of infection were eliminated. Clinical improvement was defined as the partial disappearance of pretreatment signs and symptoms. In either result, study drugs were reconstituted for additional 5 days. Failure was defined as no change or worsening of signs and symptoms; and study drug was changed. The second control was made between 10-12th days, and the third was four weeks later. RESULTS: The clinical success (improvement + cure) rate was (17+11)/42 (66.6%) and (28+21)/66 (74.2%) for amoxicillin and sultamicillin respectively, at first control. All improved patients were cured at the second control. No significant side-effects were noted in either amoxicillin or sultamicillin treated patients. All side effects were gastrointestinal, 11.9% and 3.0% in the same order. CONCLUSIONS: Low dose sultamicillin was comparable to amoxicillin; sultamicillin has fewer side effects than amoxicillin (p>0.05)