TY - JOUR T1 - Penicillin V did not shorten symptoms in children with sore throat JF - Archives of disease in childhood - Education & practice edition JO - Arch Dis Child Educ Pract Ed SP - ep55 LP - ep55 VL - 89 IS - 2 A2 - , Y1 - 2004/10/01 UR - http://ep.bmj.com/content/89/2/ep55.abstract N2 - Zwart S, Rovers MM, de Melker RA, et al. Penicillin for acute sore throat in children: randomised, double blind trial. BMJ2003;327:1324–7.OpenUrlAbstract/FREE Full Text Q In children 4–15 years of age with a sore throat, is penicillin V (PCV) for 3 (PCV3) or 7 (PCV7) days more effective than placebo for reducing the duration of symptoms (DOS)? Clinical impact ratings GP/FP/Primary care ★★★★★☆☆ Paediatrics ★★★★★☆☆ Design: randomised placebo controlled trial. Allocation: concealed.* Blinding: blinded (patients and healthcare providers).* Follow up period: 7 days. Setting: 43 family practices in the Netherlands. Patients: 156 children 4–15 years of age (mean age 10 y, 50% boys) who had a sore throat for <7 days and ⩾2 of 4 Centor criteria (history of fever, absence of cough, swollen tender anterior cervical lymph nodes, and tonsillar exudates). Exclusion criteria: imminent quinsy, scarlet fever, requirement of antibiotics, and intolerance to penicillin. 62% had a positive culture for group A streptococci (GAS). Intervention: PCV7 (n  =  46), PCV3 (n  =  54), or placebo for 7 days (n  =  56). The dosage was one 250 mg capsule … ER -